History PlayingWith / BornInTheSaddle

** The Equestrii we see are just their armies - they have a [[NobleSavage poor but civilised]] homeland where their civilians live lives of semi-nomadic subsistence farming, but never have to worry about warfare because their raiding parties have subdued the rival tribes for miles in every direction.

** Their ''ancestor's'' homeland was a semi-arid steppe and settling down anywhere was unfeasible. They themselves have just [[TheConqueror conquered]] an [[TheEmpire empire]] and receive tribute from settled folk that allow them to maintain their princes in [[ConspicuousConsumption luxury]]. In the meantime they still always [[TheSpartanWay train their children]] to ride as part of the GoodOldWays.

* '''Double Subverted''': ...until another branch of the tribe falls upon the weak, decadent [[CategoryTraitor Race Traitors]] who dare to live in mud huts and farm cows, put their village to the torch and steal their horses.

* '''Lampshaded''': ???

** Their ''ancestors'' homeland was a semi-arid steppe and settling down anywhere was unfeasible. They themselves have just [[TheConqueror conquered]] an [[TheEmpire empire]] and receive tribute from settled folk that allow them to maintain their princes in [[ConspicuousConsumption luxury]]. In the meantime they still always [[TheSpartanWay train their children]] to ride as part of the GoodOldWays.

* '''Reconstructed:''' The Equestrii we see are just their armies - they have a [[NobleSavage poor but civilised]] homeland where their civilians live lives of semi-nomadic subsistence farming, but never have to worry about warfare because their raiding parties have subdued the rival tribes for miles in every direction.
* Anti-cavalry tactics work only until the Equestrii learn how to avoid/counter it. From then on, they utterly destroy any force they face in battle. As being mounted gives then superior speed, range, manuverability and other advantages that just can't be matched by foot soldiers.

** Exploiting [[CripplingOverspecialization how the Equestrii rely solely on cavalry tactics]], the Agricoli develop anti-cavalry weapons like bayonets and halberds. The next time the Equestrii attack, their armies are completely decimated by these new weapons.

* '''Straight''': The Equestrii are a nomadic tribe whose economy is based on lightning raids of neighbouring towns. They sleep on horseback and their children start learning to ride as soon as they can sit upright.
* '''Exaggerated''': The Equestrii consider standing on the ground to be unlucky. Their gods are centaurs, and they treat their horses as BondCreatures, paired at birth.
** The Equestrii are ''literally'' BornInTheSaddle: it is considered good luck for their women to actually sit on a horse while babies are delivered.

* '''Justified''': Their homeland is a semi-arid steppe, and settling down anywhere is unfeasible. As a result they're constantly moving; driving sheep, hunting wild animals, and raiding others. Those who can't ride slow the tribe down, so they learn as soon as possible.
** Their ''ancestors'' homeland was a semi-arid steppe and settling down anywhere was unfeasible. They themselves have just [[TheConqueror conquered]] an [[TheEmpire empire]] and receive tribute from settled folk that allow them to maintain their princes in [[ConspicuousConsumption luxury]]. In the meantime they still always [[TheSpartanWay train their children]] to ride as part of the GoodOldWays.

* '''Deconstructed''':
** Exploiting [[CripplingOverspecialization how the Equestrii rely solely on cavalry tactics]], the Agricoli develop anti-cavalry weapons like bayonets and halberds. The next time the Equestrii attack, their armies are completely decimated by these new weapons.
** The realities of [[AutomatonHorses having to care for all those horses]] are played up.
* '''Reconstructed:''' The Equestrii we see are just their armies - they have a [[NobleSavage poor but civilised]] homeland where their civilians live lives of semi-nomadic subsistence farming, but never have to worry about warfare because their raiding parties have subdued the rival tribes for miles in every direction.

* '''Enforced''': What's a MedievalEuropeanFantasy without HordesFromTheEast swooping down on horseback?

** Their ''ancestors'' homeland was a semi-arid steppe and settling down anywhere was unfeasible. They themselves have just [[TheConqueror conquered]] an [[TheEmpire empire]] and receive tribute from civilized folk that allow them to maintain their princes in [[ConspicuousConsumption luxury]]. In the meantime they still always [[TheSpartanWay train their children]] to ride as part of the GoodOldWays.

** Their ''ancestors'' homeland was a semi-arid steppe and settling down anywhere was unfeasible. They themselves have just [[TheConqueror conquered]] an [[TheEmpire empire]] and receive tribute from civilized folk that allow them to maintain their princes in [[ConspicuousConsumption luxury]]. In the meantime they still always [[TheSpartanRaid train their children]] to ride as part of the GoodOldWays.

* '''Discussed''': "They say the Equestrii give birth to their children on horseback, you know. Some even say they have prophesied the coming of a centaur Messiah, and their priests lie with fillies to bring it about..."

* '''Discussed''': "They say the Equestrii give birth to their children on horseback, you know. Some even say they have prophesied the coming of a centaur Messiah, and their priests [[BestialityIsDepraved lie with fillies]] to bring it about..."

* '''Discussed''': "They say the Equestrii give birth to their children on horseback, you know. Some even say they have prophesied the coming of a centaur Messiah, and their priests [[ButYouScrewOneGoat lie with fillies]] to bring it about..."

* '''Deconstructed''': Exploiting [[CripplingOverspecialization how the Equestrii rely solely on cavalry tactics]], the Agricoli develop anti-cavalry weapons like bayonets and halberds. The next time the Equestrii attack, their armies are completely decimated by these new weapons.

* '''Deconstructed''': Exploiting[[CripplingOverspecialization how the Equestrii rely solely on cavalry tactics]], the Agricoli develop anti-cavalry weapons like bayonets and halberds. The next time the Equestrii attack, their armies are completely decimated by these new weapons.

* '''Deconstructed''': Exploiting the [[CripplingOverspecialization singular nature of Equestrii warfare]], the Agricoli develop anti-cavalry weapons like bayonets and halberds. The next time the Equestrii attack, their armies are completely decimated by these new weapons.

* '''Deconstructed''': Exploiting the [[CripplingOverspecialization singular nature of Equestrii warfare]], the Agricoli develop anti-cavalry weapons like bayonets and halberds. The next time the Equestrii are attacked, their armies are completely decimated by these new weapons.

* '''Deconstructed''': The Equestrii constantly have to worry about [[AutomatonHorses caring for their horses]], not to mention for the "unsaddled" - the elderly, sick, and nursing mothers. While the vanguard of their mounted column is made up of fit young raiders. {{horse archer}}s and shock cavalry, there is a huge following of supply wagons, spare mounts, livestock, the sick and the unfit. The constant nomadic lifestyle, and the [[KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect cultural shunning of academic work]], lead to MedievalStasis, while the AsskickingEqualsAuthority leadership entails constant war, both inside the tribe and with everyone else.

* '''Inverted''': The Agricoli had never seen horses until the Equestrii fell on their ancestors and decimated them. The events are ShroudedInMyth, but they remember the steeds as [[HellishHorse four-legged demons]] and kill them on sight.

* '''Parodied''': The [[PunnyName Gym Khanate]] are a savage tribe of once-little girls whose Pony Club was lost in the wilderness. They are [[TeenageWasteland wild and ruthless bandits]], but [[AllGirlsLikePonies boy do they love their ponies]].
* '''Deconstructed''': The Equestrii constantly have to worry about [[AutomatonHorses caring for their horses]], not to mention for the "unsaddled" - the elderly, sick, and nursing mothers. While the vanguard of their mounted column is made up of fit young raiders. {{horse archer}}s and shock cavalry, there is a huge camp following of supply wagons, spare mounts, livestock, the sick and the unfit. The constant nomadic lifestyle, and the [[KlingonScientistsGetNoRespect cultural shunning of academic work]], lead to MedievalStasis, while the AsskickingEqualsAuthority leadership entails constant war, both inside the tribe and with everyone else.

%%* '''Reconstructed''': ???

* '''Zig Zagged''': The Equestrii ride horses when it suits them, but they're perfectly willing to walk on two feet. They tend to HitAndRunTactics and {{Horse Archer}}y, but they know how to form a shield wall if they're pinned down. They're nomadic in winter, but tend to settle down over the milder months to grow crops and stock up for the winter.

* '''Parodied''': The [[PunnyName Gym Khanate]] are a savage tribe of once-little girls whose Pony Club was lost in the wilderness. They are [[TeenageWasteland wild and ruthless bandits]], but [[GirlsLikePonies boy do they love their ponies]].

* '''Parodied''': The [[PunnyName Gym Khanate]] are a savage tribe of once-little girls whose Pony Club was lost in the wilderness. They are [[TeenageWasteland wild and ruthless bandits]], but [[GirlsLoveHorses boy do they love their ponies]].

Back to [Trope]

* '''Parodied''': The [[PunnyName Gym Khanate]] are a savage tribe of once-little girls whose Pony Club was lost in the wilderness and has GoneNative. They are [[TeenageWasteland wild and ruthless killers]], but [[GirlsLoveHorses boy do they love their ponies]].