Unicorn Dragon

Unicorn Dragon
Medium: digital painting

A subspecies of the Horse Dragon, Unicorn Dragons hatch with completely white scales and remain that way throughout their entire lives. They are named for the straight, single horn which stands out of their foreheads. This golden-colored horn is prized by dragon-slayers. They are adequate fliers, although they prefer to remain on the ground and hunt by hiding in forest undergrowth. Slayers have reported Unicorn Dragons disappearing into the forest without a trace.

They are slightly smaller than Horse Dragons (about the size of large deer), and prefer to live in dense forests rather than open plains. They dislike human contact and have a reputation for being "shy," although they are quite capable of defending themselves if need be. Unlike Horse Dragons, Unicorn Dragons are solitary; they do not travel in groups. They breath fire and smoke through their nostrils, not their mouths. Some people blame forest fires on Unicorn Dragons, although Unicorn Dragons are generally not destructive.

They breed only once every decade or so, and produce a single egg, which both the male and female watch over until it hatches. The female then takes over teaching the hatchling how to hunt and take care of itself.

Horse Dragon

Horse Dragon
Medium: digital painting

Horse Dragons are named for their equine physic. They are the size of large horses, such as Shires or Belgians. They come in a variety of earthen colors, with rusty red (as pictured), brown, and earthy green being the most common. Their legs are long and built for running. Their feet have two toes each, which are hard like claws or hooves. Because they are heavy, the small wings on their haunches provide them with extra lift during flight.

Horse Dragons are excellent runners. They have good wings for flying a few miles, but they are not distance fliers. They prefer to run over long distances, and thus live in open plains and mountains, but rarely in forests. Because they are not built for crouching, they typically catch prey by spying it out from above and then driving down at it. They live in family groups of about three to twenty, headed by a lead male and his female. Young males are typically evicted from the group once they reach maturity and form bachelor groups until they can form family groups of their own. A female Horse Dragon comes in heat once a year and generally lays one egg at a time.

Horse Dragons are not overly aggressive, but they are very capable of defending themselves when threatened. They do not breathe fire from their mouths, but rather snort it through their nostrils. Their heavily armored underbellies and necks give them protection when rearing on their hind legs, and the spines along their necks and backs make it difficult for opponents to attack from above. This is particularly useful since Horse Dragons spend most of their time on the ground. They also wield a savage kick.

Howrse Coats

Red and Green Dragon Horses (for howrse.com)
Medium: digital paintings

Black and White Dragon Horses (for howrse.com)
Medium: digital paintings