Forever Comrades

A Old Empire Hasin Lancer and her Pherdhen mount.
Pherdhen are Horse like creatures native to Haku-Hasin that are very intelligent(comparable to an Earth Dolphin if not slightly smarter)
Among the Haku-Hasin it is general knowledge that a Pherdhen mount is not chosen by the rider, but the Pherdhen chooses the rider.
Steadfast, loyal, brave, a Pherdhen will defend their rider to the end.
Often when a cavalry soldier was cashiered out (i.e. returns to civilian life) The Pherdehen goes with them as well.(separating a Pherdhen from their rider is traumatic for the creature.)
In a way, it is a reward for both the mount and the former cavalry soldier.
There are herds of wild Pherdhen on the shared colony world of Fiddler's Green(Chaephus 404)