Did you guys know I'm secretly a big ol' horse nerd? I've always had an admiration for them, just never really many opportunities to get close to them and interact much. So I guess my unfilled need to associate with horses is coming out through my art now. lol

I had been thinking about what I wanted to do for character adopts and designs for my personal collection going into the new year, and all that was sounding interesting was equines. I decided to just go with it, so in 2023, I'm just gonna make a bunch of horses! In order to put a Fantasy spin on it and tie them into my faerie world, I created a special breed of horses that are ridden by the faeries of Elphyne. New designs and possibly adopts will be coming!

Text, in case it's hard to read up there:

The Each' Sidhe (Gaelic for “faerie horse”, pronounced YOK-SHEE) is a type of magical horse that lives in Elphyne, bred as special mounts for the fae. It is said that these creatures were created many ages ago when faeries transformed themselves into horses and mated with the wild horses that roamed their lands. The resulting offspring were a hybrid breed, horses in build and stature but with some of the magical traits carried by their fae parents. These magical abilities persisted down through the generations, and at present day all Each' Sidhe possess the ability to teleport, fly, communicate telepathically, conjure physical items, and transform into a two-legged form. They are not immortal, but do have great longevity, able to live hundreds of years without aging physically past their prime.

Unlike the Aurelian faeries that they originate from, they do not have wings and do not go through a metamorphic phase inside a chrysalis. They are born in the same manner, and have the same physical appearance, as terrestrial horses. They can be any color or pattern and are not limited to those of earth horses. They have a medium build with graceful proportions, long wavy manes and tails, and generous feathering on their feet. They have a slight roman-nose and a lightly arched, swan-like neck. Their eyes are gentle and expressive with long lashes, and come in as many colors as their coats do. They have quick, clever minds and can also be proud, owing to their awareness of the favor they are bestowed by the faeries. Not to be confused with Unicorns, Pegusi, or other equine-based magical creatures, the Each' Sidhe do not have spiral horns, feathered wings or any other special physical traits.

The faeries of Elphyne tell the story that they created the Each' Sidhe because they weren't comfortable asking horses to carry them all the time. The relationship faeries have with the animals of their world is that they see them very much like children, and while they can communicate with them, the animals have limited vocabulary and a very simple, straightforward understanding of the world around them. They are not capable of deep, nuanced conversation or abstract thoughts. They don't have a mind for the past or the future, only the present. The faeries don't often keep them as companions and think the idea of pets or livestock is strange and a bit degrading, and only have this sort of relationship with an animal when it has been communicated that he or she enjoys this arrangement. And so, they set out to create a few species that were between animals and themselves in both mind and magical abilities, among these were the Each' Sidhe.

Despite being able to teleport anywhere they like, Aurelian faeries do still enjoy riding and other equestrian hobbies. While many Each' Sidhe are allowed to roam wild and do as they like, only being summoned when their services are desired, a few are still housed in stables, with plenty of comfortable amenities of course. This is only done at the consent of the horse, not at the will of the rider, and always with mutual respect. If the horse wishes to go free, the faerie must allow it without question.

Each' Sidhe are capable of transforming themselves into an anthro form, but they have limited magic and cannot do this for very long at a time. This was not an intended feature, but rather a trace element of the magic inherited from their faerie ancestry, and is really only useful for short-term amusement. In their four-legged form, they can fly through the air without wings, or run fast as the wind upon the ground. Teleportation allows them to appear anywhere when called, and to reach locations that might be physically impossible to get to otherwise. Conjuration allows them to create tack and clothing for themselves upon need - usually these items match their rider, but they can also reflect their own style and taste. Most of the time, nude is the preference, so if you see a saddled Each' Sidhe, it is highly likely their services are currently being employed by a faerie.

Though they are uncommon to sight in the wild, Each' Sidhe are not terribly rare. They simply have elusive habits and can prevent being seen unless they want to, and only show themselves to those they trust. They tend to live solitary or in small family groups under cover of the forest, and travel only within their home kingdom. They cannot leave Elphyne at all, and can only cross between kingdoms if being ridden by a faerie with a travel medallion.

Each' Sidhe © myself (I don't own horses, but I do own THESE horses)
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