Horse Dragons have equine-shaped bodies and hooves instead of claws, which allow them to be fast runners. They specialize in running takeoffs, which are quicker than taking off from a stand-still. Horse dragons are able to stalk their prey from the ground then quickly execute an aerial attack for the kill.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Helga Tuffs once lived in a stable of other horse dragons that were bred and ridden by humans. Although she was just an egg, she remembered the extreme dismay of her fellow species as they had to wait their turn to race and didn't get nearly enough fresh air. When her time for hatching was drawing near, Helga's mother decided that she would not see her daughter grow up in captivity. Helga's egg was launched from the stable by a powerful magic, free from the humans at last. Her egg was found by a scout from Wayside Haven named Scallywag the Curious. Although he was just a pygmy dragon, he managed to get her all the way back to his territory before she hatched. Helga has been extremely loyal to Scallywag for raising her and has developed a great fondness for little dragons. She makes sure that all pygmy dragon affairs remain apart from those of big dragons and that Dark Grizzle does not try and weasel her way into power over the pygmy conglomerate the way she has the rest of her empire.