Stonehoof Stables stands just inside one of GrayHaven’s busiest gates, a broad timber-and-stone compound filled with the sounds of hooves, wagon wheels, stablehands, and the steady ring of hammer on iron. Travelers use the stable to board their horses, purchase mounts, repair tack, and have animals shod before heading back onto the roads beyond the city. Several fenced paddocks sit behind the main stable, while a working forge near the entrance sends a thin column of smoke into the air throughout most of the day.
The stable is owned by Gorak Stoneheel, a towering goliath farrier whose size can be intimidating until one sees how gently he handles frightened or injured animals. Gorak is known for being patient with horses and considerably less patient with foolish riders. He has a reputation throughout GrayHaven for judging a horse’s health and temperament with remarkable accuracy, and many merchants, guards, and adventurers seek his opinion before purchasing a mount.
Stonehoof usually has a small selection of riding horses, draft horses, ponies, and mules available for sale, with the occasional trained warhorse or unusually fine mount passing through. The business also provides short- and long-term boarding, grooming, shoeing, tack repair, and basic care for animals injured during travel. Adventurers leaving GrayHaven for several days or weeks often trust their mounts to Gorak and his stablehands while they are away.
Among travelers, Stonehoof has earned a reputation for fair dealing, dependable care, and straightforward service. Merchants often stop here before entering the market district, while patrols and riders moving through GrayHaven frequently use the stable as a place to rest and resupply. Because so many people pass through its gates, Stonehoof is also a good place to hear news from the roads, learn which caravans have recently arrived, or discover what conditions may be waiting beyond GrayHaven’s walls.
