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Horse Anatomy Issue Uncovered?

Morvan
Morvan
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I have possibly found out the reason why horse anatomy in ESO is weird, especially on the hind legs as many people have pointed out in the past.

I believe it wasn't a mistake per se, but it's just a consequence of sharing the same skeleton for both horses and deer, it all makes sense once you compare the models with the real-life counterparts:
dje3ib9ylsdd.png
It's clear that whenever they designed the skeleton they were trying to make something between a horse and a deer just so they could use the same rig for both, the reason people only call that out on horses is that we're so familiar with them that any inaccuracy becomes obvious.

So that's my conclusion, they're not actually intended to be shaped like horses, they're just a generic ungulate model—not really a horse, not really a deer, but close enough to both.
@MorvanClaude on PC/NA, don't try to trap me with lore subjects, it will work🦇
  • Lugaldu
    Lugaldu
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    But as far as I know, deer were introduced as mounts much later than horses. Horses were there from the beginning.
  • Syldras
    Syldras
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    uqsrvxxvu6ou.png
    @Syldras | PC | EU
    The forceful expression of will gives true honor to the Ancestors.
    Sarayn Andrethi, Telvanni mage (Main)
    Darvasa Andrethi, his "I'm NOT a Necromancer!" sister
    Malacar Sunavarlas, Altmer Ayleid vampire
    Soris Rethandus, a Sleeper not yet awake
  • Morvan
    Morvan
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    Lugaldu wrote: »
    But as far as I know, deer were introduced as mounts much later than horses. Horses were there from the beginning.
    Good point, apparently the first deer mounts were released in 2017 from what I could find, which is definitely years after the game released.

    It still sounds more likely to me that they designed the skeleton after the ungulate group with future mounts in mind. Messing up horse anatomy in a way it's close ish to deer which they'd release years later sounds like a funny coincidence.
    @MorvanClaude on PC/NA, don't try to trap me with lore subjects, it will work🦇
  • AlienSlof
    AlienSlof
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    ESO horses look more like that greyhound! :D
    RIP Atherton, my beautiful little gentle friend, my Shining Light. I will miss you forever. Without you I am a hollow shell.
  • dcrush
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    Morvan wrote: »
    Lugaldu wrote: »
    But as far as I know, deer were introduced as mounts much later than horses. Horses were there from the beginning.
    Good point, apparently the first deer mounts were released in 2017 from what I could find, which is definitely years after the game released.

    It still sounds more likely to me that they designed the skeleton after the ungulate group with future mounts in mind. Messing up horse anatomy in a way it's close ish to deer which they'd release years later sounds like a funny coincidence.
    Morvan wrote: »
    Lugaldu wrote: »
    But as far as I know, deer were introduced as mounts much later than horses. Horses were there from the beginning.
    Good point, apparently the first deer mounts were released in 2017 from what I could find, which is definitely years after the game released.

    It still sounds more likely to me that they designed the skeleton after the ungulate group with future mounts in mind. Messing up horse anatomy in a way it's close ish to deer which they'd release years later sounds like a funny coincidence.

    Deer mounts maybe… but there used to be deer in Cyrodiil.
  • LootAllTheStuff
    LootAllTheStuff
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    Syldras wrote: »
    uqsrvxxvu6ou.png

    That greyhound has clearly walked the dark paths...
  • emilyhyoyeon
    emilyhyoyeon
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    One of my dream updates for ESO is updating all the horse mounts to be shaped properly
    IGN @ emilypumpkin
    Tullanisse Starborne altmer spellsword battlemage & scholar of the ayleids
    Qa'Rirra khajiit assassin & dancer
    Seliwequen Narilata altmer necromancer & debaucher
  • scrappy1342
    scrappy1342
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    doesn't really matter which mount came first. many in game mounts were mobs before they were mounts, so it still makes sense

    6m8dsu7clhxr.jpg

    also... how they are standing makes a huge difference. duncan here is gaited, so he's shaped a little different than the average horse and they tend to like to stand in wonky positions. but most palfreys were also gaited. your (we'll call him) white horse up top is posed very straight up and down for his pic
    Edited by scrappy1342 on March 31, 2026 3:22PM
    pcna
  • Hollyniss
    Hollyniss
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    Newer horses in this game remind me too much of Elder Scrolls Oblivion (classic) horses...

    gq3ei0bg00j9.jpg


    At least Oblivion Remastered fixed it...

    6iozzhnlfj93.jpg

    Hopefully someday Elder Scrolls Online will fix theirs...
  • Syldras
    Syldras
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    That greyhound has clearly walked the dark paths...

    Greyhound? That's clearly a horse!
    @Syldras | PC | EU
    The forceful expression of will gives true honor to the Ancestors.
    Sarayn Andrethi, Telvanni mage (Main)
    Darvasa Andrethi, his "I'm NOT a Necromancer!" sister
    Malacar Sunavarlas, Altmer Ayleid vampire
    Soris Rethandus, a Sleeper not yet awake
  • NotaDaedraWorshipper
    NotaDaedraWorshipper
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    They actually share the same skeleton with dogs, not deers which were added later. So horses and deers both look weird because their base is after the dog/wolves. It's unbearable noticeable to me if one uses the skinny mange horse model and runs.

    and we have requested for nicer looking horses for many many years :( They need a new skeleton and animation, not trying slap different shaped versions of paint over the same old one.
    [Lie] Of course! I don't even worship Daedra!
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