Roland obtained his horse by killing a Saracen with a stick

Veillantif is the legendary horse of Roland that one discovers in the chanson de geste Aspramonte. While he is still a teenager, Roland rushes to the aid of King Charlemagne by striking down the powerful Saracen Aumont with a blow from a stick. He thus seizes the mount of the vanquished, initially named Briadoro and renamed Vegliantino by the Christians.