Grani

In Völsunga saga, Sigurðr meets a long-bearded old man whom he had never seen before. He tells the man that he is going to choose a horse and asks for the man's council. The old man suggests that they drive the horses into the river Busiltjörn. They did so, and all the horses swam back to land, save one; and that horse Sigurðr took for himself; grey he was of hue, and young of years, great of growth, and fair to look on, nor had any man yet crossed his back.

The old man says to him: From Sleipnir's kin is this horse come, and he must be nourished heedfully, for it will be the best of all horses. The old man, who was none other than Odin, then vanishes. Sigurðr named the horse Grani.

After Sigurðr had slain Fáfnir, he took the dragon's gold and trussed it up in his saddle-bags, and laid it on Grani's back. Hence a kenning for gold is Grani's Burden.

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