This hoofed herbivore has developed into an elegant animal over hundreds of generations of selective breeding. It is a sleek beautiful animal that derives it name from the Steppe of its origin.

Appearance. The Rusik is around five fores at the withers and is covered in short glossy dark reddish brown hair. The body is somewhat barrel shaped with strong chest and shoulder muscles, tapering to the flank and ending in large strong hip and thigh muscles. It has four legs that appear too thin to support the body, but are quite capable of doing so, that end in solid hooves. The hooves are light tan in color with the color lightening and extending up into and a little above the fetlock. This may not always be true on every animal but the hooves are always lighter. These hooves are slightly longer than in other breeds making it surer of foot and more agile. The Rusik has a large strong, slightly long neck. The head is elongated with large cheeks and jaws and ending in a rounded muzzle. The forehead is roughly diamond shaped and flat with the face long and tapered to the muzzle. The muzzle consists of two large rounded nostrils and large lips, all of which are fuzzy and soft. The mouth has large chisel-shaped incisors for cutting the grasses and large premolar and molars with convoluted surfaces for grinding the grasses it eats. On either side of the forehead are large ears roughly pyramidal in shape and can rotate from front to back, together or independently. It has two large eyes that are slightly to the front of the head that range from brown to black in color. The mane and tail for this animal is long and flowing and a creamy white in color. Unlike other breeds of this horse there is no forelock. The horse is different from most other breeds in that they have one less vertebra in the back. When the Rusik is in fell stride it is graceful and quick with the mane waving in the air with the tail raised and also waving in the air.

Special Abilities. The Rusik have no special abilities but it must be noted here that it is an easily trained intelligent animal with good stamina, agility and speed. Also, what may be more a peculiarity than ability, this animal produces more male offspring than female: a ratio of almost four to one.

Territory. The Rusik are now found all over the Sarvonian continent. But they are bred and raised only in the Steppe of Kruswik and its surrounding environs.

Habitat/Behaviour. The Rusik is an intelligent animal and can be easily trained to do most jobs. It also has good endurance and can work for long periods with out rest. But this animal is not well suited for very heavy tedious work. Although, like most breeds, it can have high spirited, ill tempered or just plain dull members, it is generally good-natured.

Diet. The Rusik is a herbivore and eats the many grasses found throughout the Sarvonian continent. Their diet is also supplemented with some dried grains and vegetables like the carroot for a healthier animal.

Usages. It is not known which breeds were crossbred to produce the Rusik but it is obvious this animal has become a breed alone. It has been used for light infantry in most of the major wars and many civil and private wars too. The Rusik has and is still used to pull carriages of the elite. Most courier systems also use the Rusik because of its good speed and endurance. Today the grace, speed and ease of training has made it a must have with many of the wealthy classes. They usually attend or send their representatives to the Xara Horse Auctions held every three years in Horth.

Mating.. The female Rusik comes into heat in late summer or early autumn and will have a single foal the following spring. The mating is often a serious affair with the female attempting to bite or kick the stallion trying to mate with her. Often times a mare in heat is put in a special stall making the process less hazardous and quickly accomplished.