Herd Life of Azrein.

First and foremost, Horses are highly social herd animals that prefer to live in a group. Like all creatures, equine social behavior developed to help the species survive. By moving in herds, horses are able to protect each other, and receive protection in turn. To be outcast from a herd is the equivalent of being sentenced to death unless the outcast is able to find another herd to join. In this guide, you will learn the benefits of living in a herd, how and why herds are structured as they are, and the hierarchy created as it is.
This guide is not meant to limit. Rather, for those with an unclear goal for their Azrein, this guide is meant to help guide them to an optional route that they might wish to take. As Azrein in a fantastical world, the rules that make up the real horse do not strictly apply. This is only meant to be a starting point for those that wish to learn more about horses and way that they can be RPed.

This section will detail the benefits and drawbacks of joining a herd. This post will also speak from an RP perspective in addition to informing about the natural way of herd life. If you have been wondering whether or not you should join a herd, or start your own, this post should be beneficial.

There are benefits to herd life that apply to Azrein. Herds are there to protect, to lead, and to unite. In the sense of RP, by joining a herd, you are able to join a group people with whom you trust to be able to RP with on a semi-regular basis. The Azrein within the herd become your Azrein's family. As a member of the Herd, it is your job to help protect the members, to fight against their enemies should it be required, and to help each other achieve your seperate goals. Are you looking for friendship? Love? A family? A herd is able to provide all of these things.
This being said, joining a herd is not the only way to achieve these goals. However, it is certainly one way to do so, and be able to always have rp partners. Before joining a herd, evaluate it's members, the goals and viewpoints of the herd, and determine if this is the right kind of setting for your Azrein.

For those that want to become leaders of your very own herd, there are a few things to consider. Creating your own herd requires commitment to those that join it. As the leader, it is your job to guide the Azrein that trust you to lead them. Be it a Good Aligned herd determined to fight against the Six, a Neutral Aligned herd trying to stay clear of the entire fight, or Evil Aligned herds doing their best to destroy the bonds between Chosen and Azrein, your job is to keep your herd together and strive towards a common goal. If you have been wondering whether you should create your own herd, first consider what you want to accomplish by creating it. People will be more likely to join a cause if they know what they're joining. A generic herd that just wants to gain lots of people is not going to be a successful as one that has clear points outlined for their members on what their viewpoints and goals are.

So your Azrein has joined a herd, and now you're wondering what your role in it might be. This guide will show how order is maintained in real horses, and the variations that are possible with Azrein.

Traditional feral and wild horse herds are usually made up of several separate small bands who share a given territory. Bands are organized on a "harem model" in that they usually consist of one adult male and a group of females. Each band is led by a mare who is dominant in the hierarchy, called the "dominant mare," the "lead mare" or the "boss mare." The band contains additional mares, their foals, and immature horses of both sexes. There is usually a single "herd" or "lead" stallion, though occasionally a few less-dominant males may remain on the fringes of the group.

However, we have Azrein, who are more intelligent than wild and domesticated horses. To compare them would be an insult to the Azrein. Thus the herds of Azrein do not have to follow traditional herds (though you could if you wanted. One stallion surrounded by lots of females. Who could resist?) A herd can be made up of as many females and males as want to join it, both mature and immature genders. Whether your herd is made up of two or three females, or a dozen males and females, the most important factor of a herd is it's ability to get along and work together.

As with many animals that live in large groups, establishment of a stable hierarchical system or "pecking order" is important to smooth group functioning. This is often, but not always, a completely linear system. There are times when situations arise where horse A may be dominant over horse B who is dominant over horse C, yet in certain circumstances horse C could be dominant over horse A in competition for a particular resource. Or another way to see this is, the low man on the totem pole can sometimes be the top if they have something valuable to contribute before returning to the bottom. Dominance depends on a variety of factors, including an individual's need for a particular resource at a given time. It is therefore variable throughout the lifetime of the herd or individual animal.

Contrary to traditional portrayals of the herd stallion as the "ruler" of a "harem" of females, the actual leader of a wild or feral herd is the alpha or dominant mare, commonly known as the "boss mare" or "lead mare." She is usually one of the more mature animals, responsible for the overall safety of the herd, familiar with the terrain and resources available. She takes the lead when the herd travels, determines the best route, when to move from one place to another, and claims the right to drink first from watering holes and stake out the best location for grazing. However, as Azrein are more intelligent than wild horses, stallions are able to become the leader of a herd. Regardless of who the leader is, mare or stallion, their job is to lead their herd. The viewpoints and goals of the leader will determine the paths that the herd will take. It will also be the leader's responsibility to make sure that a herd is getting along. They are the delegates that pass punishment to offenders.

The edge of the herd is the domain of the herd stallion, who must fight off both predators and other males. When the herd travels, the stallion brings up the rear, watching for predators and driving straggling herd members on, keeping the group together. Most of the time, the stallion is fairly relaxed, spending much of his time "guarding" the herd. Again, as we are dealing with Azrein, the herd stallion's role can also be played by a mare. Regardless of whether they are male or female, the Azrein must be a dominating force, able to fight off enemies and put the safety of the herd before themselves.

Much credit for this article goes to Horse Behavior from wikipedia.

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