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Born in the Saddle

 Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
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A culture so thoroughly in love with horses, they may as well be centaurs. They fight on horseback, they travel on horseback, they eat on horseback, they sleep on horseback. They probably aren't literally born there, but they'll certainly start learning to ride before they can walk.
Expect a lot of jokes about just how much they love their horses.
Often a Fantasy Counterpart Culture to Turks, the Mongols and/or the Huns, and as such have a distinct tendency to function as Hordes from the East, Barbarian Tribes, and/or Noble Savages. However, as the Rohirrim in The Lord of the Rings demonstrate, they can just as well be a more chivalric and "civilized" culture. Don't be surprised — "chivalry" derives from the French word "chevalier," a horseback rider or knight. Whether or not they're the bad guys, they're sure to be a Proud Warrior Race (you can't get much studying done at a canter, after all).
Usually expert Horse Archers, though tend to be just as good with a sword.
Sometimes the steed of choice will be a Horse of a Different Color, but actual Equus f. caballus seem to be favored for some reason. Compare Born Under the Sail for cultures strongly associated with seafaring instead of horse-riding.
Trope Maker for Knight in Shining Armor.
Often a variant of a Wandering Culture.
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DBTropes
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Born in the Saddle
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Averted in one of the ancestors of the Queen of Sto Lat in Mort, who settled down with a speech to the effect of "Just because you're born in the saddle doesn't mean you have to die in it".
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Space Wolves replace horses with tank-sized wolves.
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Heralds of Valdemar: The Shin'a'in are a horse culture inspired by both Mongolian nomads and Native Americans from the Plains. Taking a tame but unbroken horse and training it is a rite of passage for children under ten. The clans travel throughout the year with their herds and sell the "culls" to outlanders, who are eager to take them. Horses of Shin'a'in breeding are thought of as the swiftest, smartest, and most beautiful in the world.
The Heralds themselves are chosen from all walks of life but become this after rigorous training (though their mounts are intelligent spirits in horse-like physical bodies). When Talia is brought to the Heralds' Collegium, her equestrian instructor Keren informs the girl that "by the time I'm done with you, anything you can do afoot, you'll be able to do from the back of your Companion." Later in the trilogy, that same instructor manages to slingshot into a dive from the back of her Companion in full gallop. Said one of the other Heralds, "I didn't know you could do that!"
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Total War: Rome II: The Nomadic Tribes DLC features three Scythian tribes whose primary strengths are cavalry units.
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While the Númenorëans' culture wasn't anywhere near as horse-reliant as the Rohirrim's, The Silmarillion notes that they were the greatest horsemen of the Second Age, to the point where they could even call on horses telepathically. Part of the reason for their lack of cavalry was, funnily, their size: Númenorëans are on the whole taller than most humans, and proportionally heavier, which means most horses would have issues bearing one in battle.
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Crusader Kings: In Crusader Kings II, the DLC "The Horse Lords" allows play as the leaders of nomadic horse-riding hordes, most notably the Mongols.
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Fire Emblem:
The Sacaeans from Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade and The Blazing Blade are a culture of nomadic horsemen.
The Almyrans from Fire Emblem: Three Houses are renowned for their horsemanship, to the point where even their official emblem depicts an archer on horseback.
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The Belgariad: The Algar. On rare occasions, they actually have members born to the tribe who can talk to horses. They're also cattlemen; when Hettar mentions his dream of domesticating and/or crossbreeding a type of flesh-eating wild horse, Garion (after noting Hettar can't stand the idea of something equine that he can't ride) points out that it's a bad idea to have horses that see cattle as food when your economy revolves around cattle.
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Mount & Blade: The Khergit Khanate. Other than the basic recruits, every soldier on their troop roster is mounted, and most are equally proficient with bow and blade. They even quote the page name in an unused sound clip.
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The Takeda clan in Total War: Shogun 2. Lampshaded when the clan's announcer name-drops the Trope in their opening. Subverted in real life, as per the Real Life entry below.
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Nintama Rantarou: Danzou Katou. His family uses horses in their business, and He's been trained to ride from a very young age.
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Eberron: The Valenar elves. The Halflings of the Talenta Plains also, although they use dinosaurs for mounts.
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The Mongols in Shogun: Total War and Medieval II: Total War, as par the course. The Timurids in the latter's late game one up-them by also having War Elephants units, some of them with primitive cannon and rocket launchers.
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Discworld:
The Horse Tribes in The Light Fantastic. They aren't very sentimental about their steeds, though; when your entire culture is based on horses, that includes your diet.
Averted in one of the ancestors of the Queen of Sto Lat in Mort, who settled down with a speech to the effect of "Just because you're born in the saddle doesn't mean you have to die in it".
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The Elenium and The Tamuli feature the Peloi. The men of these nomadic plains tribes learn to master their horses early (one neat trick is they can make their horses kneel somehow) and are consummate light cavalrymen known for slicing up enemy flanks while their horses practically fly past. Kring, the leader of the Peloi of Pelosia, is noted to be bowlegged due to his constant riding.
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The Horse Tribes in The Light Fantastic. They aren't very sentimental about their steeds, though; when your entire culture is based on horses, that includes your diet.
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Tolkien's Legendarium has probably the most famous European-based examples:
The people of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings are justly famous for their horsemanship, to the point where pretty much their entire military consists of Middle-Earth's finest cavalry. They are even capable of making a frontal cavalry charge, the ultimate fantasy of any army who has a cavalry, work. In fact, the very name of the Rohirrim people themselves means "Horse-lords" in Sindarin.
While the Númenorëans' culture wasn't anywhere near as horse-reliant as the Rohirrim's, The Silmarillion notes that they were the greatest horsemen of the Second Age, to the point where they could even call on horses telepathically. Part of the reason for their lack of cavalry was, funnily, their size: Númenorëans are on the whole taller than most humans, and proportionally heavier, which means most horses would have issues bearing one in battle.
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Civilization: True to their real-life reputation, the Mongols tend to get a powerful mounted Unique Unit in the early game.
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Exalted: The Marukan Alliance consists of this, with a bit of cowboy thrown in for good measure. They worship a horse god (who sires some of their steeds), their national militia doubles up as a postal service, and they often serve as elite cavalry for the nearby city-state of Lookshy.
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The Sacaeans from Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade and The Blazing Blade are a culture of nomadic horsemen.
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 Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade (Video Game)
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Dungeons & Dragons:
Eberron: The Valenar elves. The Halflings of the Talenta Plains also, although they use dinosaurs for mounts.
In Gazetteer 12, The Golden Khan of Ethengar describes the Ethengar tribesmen (who are based on the Real Life Mongol hordes of Genghis Khan) this way. Children start riding at the age of three.
In Ravenloft, the people of Nova Vaasa track their origins to nomads Born in the Saddle, and are still renowned as the Core's best horsemen and horse-breeders. Actually an aversion, as this is "false history"; like most Core realms, Nova Vaasa was created out of whole cloth, backstory included, by the Dark Powers.
Forgotten Realms: The Tuigan, being the setting's version of the Mongol hordes, have whole armies of horsemen warriors.
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Age of Empires II: The Huns and the Mongols have faction bonuses that emphasis in this, and both have cavalry units as their unique units. The Huns don't need to build houses and immediately have a their total population. The Mongols still build houses, but won't lose their population if they get destroyed.
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In Fushigi Yuugi, the characters journey to "Hokkan", which is heavily based on Mongolia. A little boy is having trouble learning how to ride, and Tamahome helps him out.
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The Traitor Son Cycle: The Vardariotes are their world's Mongol Expies, with all this brings. They're all experts on horses, provide the best mounts in the setting and have no infantry units.
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Forgotten Realms: The Tuigan, being the setting's version of the Mongol hordes, have whole armies of horsemen warriors.
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Avatar: The "Horse Clans of the plain" seem to be Pandora's version of this, but on six-legged direhorses. They're mentioned in Jake's uniting-the-tribes montage, and later provide the initial suicidal cavalry charge in the Final Battle.
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The people of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings are justly famous for their horsemanship, to the point where pretty much their entire military consists of Middle-Earth's finest cavalry. They are even capable of making a frontal cavalry charge, the ultimate fantasy of any army who has a cavalry, work. In fact, the very name of the Rohirrim people themselves means "Horse-lords" in Sindarin.
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The Tough Guide to Fantasyland: "The Anglo-Saxon Cossack barbarians are horse breeders who live on the steppes. Expert riders, they show off with riding tricks and make great cavalry on the Good side. Despite this, they will never have bandy legs. Strangely enough, in spite of their nomadic life they are found living in stone fastnesses and only use tents rarely."
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The Witches of Eileanan: The people of the MacAhern clan aren't called "the Horse Lairds" for nothing. They ride winged horses; supposedly, you have to stay on one for an entire year, day and night, doing everything in the saddle, before the horse will accept you.
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The Wheel of Time: This is the Saldaeans' hat. At one point a legion of them parade across a plain doing tricks — riding two horses at once with one foot on either saddle, slapping the ground in passing while dangling precariously from the saddle, or climbing underneath the horse and up the other side, all while at a full gallop.
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A Song of Ice and Fire: The Dothraki live and breathe horses and don't let you forget about it. They worship horse-gods, talk about practically everything in terms of equine metaphors, and being able to ride a horse is a basic marker of social status, with only eunuchs, cripples, heavily pregnant women, small children, and the elderly riding in carts. And changing the word from Khan to Khal isn't fooling anyone, either. They even refer to what we call "doggy-style" as "horse-fashion", and most will have sex in no other way. Their Chosen One is called "The Stallion Who Mounts The World".
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Codex Inversus: The elves of the Ash Khanate lead a perpetually nomadic existence, crossing their ashen plains with their herds of horses, sheep, and yaks along preset routes that they have observed for a millennium. Their endless migrations are designed to act as an immense, perpetual ritual, drawing in and preserving ghosts that would otherwise fade into nothingness in a world without an afterlife.
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Legend of the Five Rings: The Unicorn Clan is Rokugan's definitive example, since its culture is largely inspired by the Mongols'. A Unicorn samurai gets combat bonuses when on horseback, and in earlier versions, being on horseback gives bonuses to *all* rolls.
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In Ravenloft, the people of Nova Vaasa track their origins to nomads Born in the Saddle, and are still renowned as the Core's best horsemen and horse-breeders. Actually an aversion, as this is "false history"; like most Core realms, Nova Vaasa was created out of whole cloth, backstory included, by the Dark Powers.
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Game of Thrones: The Dothraki live and breathe horses just like in the book series.
House of the Dragon: The Targaryen dynasty has a strong bond with dragons and they ride them starting in childhood (for that matter, the dragons are equipped with saddles), first seen in the series with Rhaenyra and Syrax. This would become lost once the dragons would become extinct several decades later, though the practice would resurrect with Daenerys in Game of Thrones.
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Warhammer 40,000:
The barbaric Atillan Rough Riders supply some of the most celebrated cavalry regiments of the Imperial Guard (Mogul Kamir even has a literal Automaton Horse). The denizens of the planet Chogoris have a similar mounted culture, though if they're found worthy of joining the White Scars space marine chapter they'll exchange their horse for an armored motorcycle.
Space Wolves replace horses with tank-sized wolves.
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Warhammer has several variations on this:
The nomadic Kurgan (fantasy Scythians) and Hung (fantasy Mongols) of the Northern Wastes, who are widely considered the greatest horsemen in the world. (That's right, the Hung like horses.)
The people of Kislev, the Ungols and the Gospodars, have long traditions of horsemanship and originated from two different groups of steppe nomads that eventually settled into agricultural life. Although they're not quite as formidable as their Kurgan cousins, they still produce extremely formidable horse archers (in the Ungols' case) and heavy knights (in the Gospodars').
The people of the duchy of Couronne in Bretonnia. All Bretonnian nobles love horses, but these guys take it to extremes; they never walk if they can ride instead, and take immense pride in owning the finest horses possible. Rumor has it that Couronnian women have tried to take this trope to its literal extreme, but giving birth in the saddle is actually impossible. Couronne is also the only place in Bretonnia where non-nobles are allowed to ride.
The High Elves of Ellyrion live and breathe horses. Their land is home to large herds of wild horses, which the Ellyrian elves tame with magic, and Ellyrion produces the finest mounted troops in Ulthuan. It's said that Ellyrians can ride before they can walk, and they are in fact paired with their personal steeds when both elf and horse and very young. They're also insanely protective of their steeds, and killing an Ellyrian's horse is a good way of getting yourself lynched; it's a common saying among other Elves that it's better to harm an Ellyrian's brother than his horse. Dark Elf raiders often attack Ellyrion to steal wild horses for their own herds, something the Ellyrians resist viciously — few crimes are more appallingly vile to the Horsemasters of Ellyrion than horse theft (and considerably worse is that the Dark Elves viciously abuse and torture the horses they steal into cavalry).
The Hobgoblins rule a vast nomadic khanate in the East, although in their case the mounts they do everything on are wolves.
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House of the Dragon: The Targaryen dynasty has a strong bond with dragons and they ride them starting in childhood (for that matter, the dragons are equipped with saddles), first seen in the series with Rhaenyra and Syrax. This would become lost once the dragons would become extinct several decades later, though the practice would resurrect with Daenerys in Game of Thrones.
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Total War:
The Mongols in Shogun: Total War and Medieval II: Total War, as par the course. The Timurids in the latter's late game one up-them by also having War Elephants units, some of them with primitive cannon and rocket launchers.
The Takeda clan in Total War: Shogun 2. Lampshaded when the clan's announcer name-drops the Trope in their opening. Subverted in real life, as per the Real Life entry below.
Total War: Rome II: The Nomadic Tribes DLC features three Scythian tribes whose primary strengths are cavalry units.
Total War: Attila: The Huns, Avars, and White Huns, as well as the other "Horde" factions, all fit this. The Alans as well; while not committed to the nomadic lifestyle, they've got an even more horse-focused army list and faction bonus.
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Safehold: Desnairans wear it proudly as their hat, although how much of it is true is debatable. The commander of force "allied" with them loves to mock it. Of course Desnairan will ride a horse like he's born in it, of course he'll launch grand charges, of course he's the "most best" horse rider in the world... Only it doesn't help much when the enemy is armed with muzzle-loaded rifles. It didn't do much good running into a line of Siddarmarkian pikes in the old days, either — the general implication is that it is only really the Desnairan nobility which is like this.
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The Almyrans from Fire Emblem: Three Houses are renowned for their horsemanship, to the point where even their official emblem depicts an archer on horseback.
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Bazil Broketail: The Baguti are horse-riding nomads who live in the Gan region to the west of Argonath. Most indeed learn how to ride before they can even walk. Realistically, they're all bow-legged as a result. Mostly, they live through raiding others, taking slaves they then sell to the Padmasans, herding their horses across the Gan grasslands. Given their culture, the Baguti fights as horse archers or with scimitars, and they are far less effective on foot (Lessis takes full advantage of it when planning an ambush for one band).
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The Gamer's Alliance: The Khitans from the Khitan Khanate in Maar Sul are expert riders who are skilled in the use of both the bow and the sword. They bond with their horses at an early age and see them as their brothers and sisters.
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In Golden Kamuy, Kiroroanke has been close to horses since youth, which is not so surprising considering that the Ainu during the Meiji Era had a reputation for being very good horsemen. Not only does he know how to analyze their behavior, but he can also outpace experienced jockeys on a heavier than usual horse, with a horrible head start to boot.
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Total War: Attila: The Huns, Avars, and White Huns, as well as the other "Horde" factions, all fit this. The Alans as well; while not committed to the nomadic lifestyle, they've got an even more horse-focused army list and faction bonus.
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Born in the Saddle
processingCategory2
Equine and Equestrian Tropes
 Born in the Saddle
processingCategory2
Fictional Culture and Nation Tropes
 Codex Inversus (Blog) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
 The Light Fantastic / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
 The Queen's Thief / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 The Tough Guide to Fantasyland / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 The Traitor Son Cycle / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 The Witches of Eileanan / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
 SilkRoad
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Born in the Saddle
 A Bride's Story (Manga) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
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 The Dragon Has Three Heads (Roleplay) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
 RuneQuest (Tabletop Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 After the End: A Post-Apocalyptic America (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
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Born in the Saddle
 Mount & Blade (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 Rome: Total War (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 Six Ages (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 The Lord of the Rings Online (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 Total War: Attila (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 Total War: Rome II (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 War for the West (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 Backstroke of the West (Web Video) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle
 Master of Magic (Video Game) / int_96804de5
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Born in the Saddle