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{{lifeform
|image=Ryshadium by Marianne Eie.jpg
|type=Horse
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{update|sa4}}
{{quote
|They pick their rider, son. We fixate on Shards, but any man -- courageous or coward -- can bond a Blade. Not so here, on this ground. Only the worthy win here . . .
|Dalinar to Adolin{{book ref|sa2|81}}
}}
'''Ryshadium''' are a subspecies or breed of horse on [[Roshar]]. They are genetically distinct from other horses, though they are still capable of mating with them.{{wob ref |2691}} They are likely descended from horses that were brought to Roshar when humans first arrived.{{book ref|sa3|113}} They are often referred to as "the third Shard" in addition to a [[Shardblade]] and [[Shardplate]].{{book ref|sa3|10}}
== Appearance and Anatomy ==
{{image|Ryshadium 2 by Marianne Eie.jpg|side=left|width=200px}}
Ryshadium are larger than other breeds of horse -- for example, [[Gallant]] is two hands taller than an ordinary mount.{{book ref|sa1|12}} They can have various coat colors, including black and white.{{book ref|sa1|12}}{{book ref|sa1|13}} Additionally, they can have both light or dark eyes, which have rectangular pupils.{{book ref|sa3|10}}{{book ref|sa2|81}} Unlike ordinary horses, Ryshadium have stone hooves and thus do not require shoes.{{book ref|sa3|10}} This is likely an adaptation they have developed for life on Roshar. It is unknown if the hooves are actually stone, or a stone-like material.
In [[Shadesmar]], Ryshadium leave behind a faint glowing afterimage.{{book ref|row|22}}
==Ecology==
Ryshadium live wild in herds across Roshar, though they rarely stray into the western part of the continent. It is only after one chooses to bond a human that they allow themselves to be taken out of the wild.{{book ref|sa3|26}}
== Behavior ==
===Spren Bond===
Ryshadium have a symbiotic bond with [[spren]].{{au ref|rosharan}} This is a variant of the [[Nahel bond]] that turns humans into [[Surgebinder]]s.{{wob ref|14509}} The specific type of spren that bonds with them is unclear, although it could be [[musicspren]] as they have been seen around the Ryshadium even when there is no music playing.{{book ref|sa3|26}} The Ryshadium becomes significantly more intelligent—nearly sapient—and somewhat more resilient, while the spren is pulled into the Physical Realm.{{au ref|roshar}}{{wob ref|14456}}{{wob ref|14458}} Ryshadium and humans are among the few non-native species on Roshar to have developed a spren bond.{{wob ref|10499}} They go to the [[Beyond]] upon dying.{{wob ref|8313}}
The spren bond makes them more intelligent than any normal animal.{{wob ref|14456}} Their intelligence and understanding can be seen in their relationships with their riders. Human riders will often carry on conversations with Ryshadium and the horses will seemingly answer, either through body language or sounds such as snorts.{{book ref|sa1|15}}{{book ref|sa3|10}}{{book ref|sa2|26}}
In turn, humans take great care not to upset them. They cannot be ridden unless they choose a rider first,{{book ref|sa3|10}} and even then they remain difficult to train.{{book ref|sa1|18}} A Ryshadium will not be stabled with regular horses, but rather on its own pasture, large enough to run around in.{{book ref|sa3|10}} Common grooms typically don't know how to care for a Ryshadium, and once back in its pasture, the horse is sometimes left to fend for itself.{{book ref|sa2|8}}
=== Choosing a Rider ===
{{image|Dalinar by Caio Santos.jpg|[[Gallant]] carrying [[Dalinar]] into battle|side=right|width=200px}}
Ryshadium are known for choosing and obeying only a particular rider.{{book ref|sa1|12}} They are not broken or trained; they choose of their own volition.{{book ref|sa4|21}} A person must be "worthy" to be chosen by a Ryshadium. What the measure of worthiness is, however, remains unclear.{{book ref|sa2|81}} Only a dozen men in all the warcamps at the [[Shattered Plains]] had a Ryshadium{{book ref|sa1|12}} and for much of his life [[Dalinar]] was not worthy.{{wob ref|12117}} Dalinar describes the experience of having a Ryshadium accept him as a rider as "indescribable".{{book ref|sa1|15}}
Though Ryshadium choose their rider, they may allow others to ride them as they are needed; in one instance, Ryshadium were used to carry three wounded men from the battlefield.{{book ref|sa1|68}} On the rare occasions that a Ryshadium needs to carry someone other than their rider, the rider may have to spend a long time convincing the horse to do so.{{book ref|sa2|51}} Adolin regrets not appreciating [[Sureblood]] enough prior to his death in the battle at [[Stormseat]]; he spends time watching and grooming Gallant.{{book ref|sa3|10}}{{book ref|sa4|22}} They form a friendship, and Gallant—perhaps missing Dalinar's companionship—eventually allows Adolin to ride him.{{book ref|sa4|13}}{{book ref|sa4|35}} A Ryshadium having two riders is described as "very rare".{{book ref|sa4|21}}
===In Battle===
Ryshadium are ideal warhorses. They can carry a [[Shardbearer]] in full Plate, demonstrating their enhanced strength and endurance. They are also faster than other horse breeds.{{book ref|sa1|13}}{{book ref|sa1|56}} They are strong enough to withstand a Shardbearer jumping into their saddle without any injury to themselves, an action that would break the backs of most ordinary horses.{{book ref|sa1|13}}{{book ref|sa3|26}} In battle, Ryshadium will hold their ground even in circumstances when other horses would flee, either through training or their natural abilities.{{book ref|sa1|13}}
While Ryshadium are useful in battle, Shardbearers will sometimes fight unmounted so that they do not endanger their Ryshadium in close attacks.{{book ref|sa1|56}}{{book ref|sa1|68}} Ryshadium are loyal to their riders, and will risk their lives to find and aid them.{{book ref|sa1|68}}
'''Known Riders'''
*[[Dalinar]] with [[Gallant]]{{book ref|sa1|15}}
*[[Adolin]] with [[Sureblood]]{{book ref|sa1|13}} and Gallant{{book ref|sa4|13}}{{book ref|sa4|35}}
*[[Hatham]] with unnamed Ryshadium{{book ref|sa2|29}}
*[[Kalanor]] with unnamed Ryshadium{{book ref|sa3|26}}
== Trivia ==
* Ryshadium is a word also used in the ''[[Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (series)|Alcatraz]]'' series; [[Radrian Blackburn]] asks [[Leavenworth Smedry]] how to bypass the Sentinel's Glass of Ryshadium during the torture.{{book ref|a1|16}}
== Notes ==
<references /><!-- chapters −
--- WoK 12, 13, 15, 18, 26, 56, 64, 68, 69, I-6
--- WoR 08, 25, 26, 29, 51, 76, 86,Epilogue
--- OB 10, 26 -->
{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}
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