horses

EQUINE

Medieval Horses w Horse Colors w Barb w Garron vs. Steppe w Glossary Terms

Medieval Horses

In the Middle Ages, Horses Were Specially Bred to Meet the Requirements of Warfare
and Chivalry and the Needs of the Mounted Knight

It is commonly believed that the great war-horses, also called destriers, were developed during the Middle Ages to support the great weight of the armored knight. Actually, a good suit of armor was not over 70 pounds in weight; and therefore, the horse would only be expected to carry some 250 to 300 pounds. The real reason large horses were useful was because their weight gave greater force to the impact of the knight's lance, both in warfare and in the tournament. A destrier weighed twice as much as a conventional riding horse; and when the knight struck a conventionally mounted opponent, the impact could be devastating. The destrier was sometimes shod with sharp nail heads protruding so that he could trample foot-soldiers in his path. The destrier was a very potent weapon, and yet his descendants are the mild mannered and docile work horses of today who put their strength to less brutal use.

The Palfrey: Everyday Ambler

The destrier was the horse of battle, but would not have proved a comfortable mount for the " off
duty" knight. Instead, the knight rode the palfrey, a short-legged, long-bodied horse which had a
gentle amble for a gait. The smooth ride afforded by the palfrey also made it a suitable mount for the
wounded or aged who might have difficulty mounting and riding a taller horse.

The Courser: Hot Blooded Speedster

While the destrier and palfrey excelled in power and comfort, respectively, they were not fast horses.
The need for a fast carrier of messages between armies or kingdoms, gave rise to the courser, the
ancestor of the race horse. Coursers were strong, lean horses which probably had "hot" (ie. Turkish,
Arabian, or Barb) blood in their veins. A principal source of coursers was the kingdom of Naples.
The Neapolitans acquired horses from Africa and bred them to European stock. The result was an
extremely fast horse sought by kings from as far away as England who wanted to add speed to their
stables.

Source: http://www.imh.org/imh/kyhpl2a.html#xtocid165605

THE INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE HORSE: HORSE COLORS

Source: http://members.tripod.com/cavanaughc/id81.htm

While not the tawny color that Rasoul rode into Kelson's Hall, it is a magnificent photo of a Spanish Barb.

Source http://www.vipersix.net/spanishbarb/

Garron Highland pony (In KKB Count Matyas and Sir Angus MacEwan (Ewan's grandson) compare Garrons to Steppe Ponies.)

The Highland Pony stands about 13hh to 14.2hh (52-58 in.) with some ponies - usually geldings- occassionally growing taller than this due to better feeding and care from birth. They are heavily built - 450/550kg for an adult - and although called 'ponies' are more like horses with short legs. They are the largest of Britain's nine native pony breeds.

Source: http://www.imh.org/imh/bw/high.html

Steppe Pony
A steppe pony is not attractive, graceful, or large, but its homely, ungainly appearance disguises an animal of great endurance, speed, and strength. A steppe pony looks like a cross between a horse and a pony, but is a breed unto itself. They are small, averaging 13 hands (4'4") at the withers, and they have short necks, large heads, and heavily boned bodies. Their winter coat is shaggy and gives them the appearance of being "half-wild." They are most commonly colored copper or bronze, with a light
yellow stripe running down their backs

Source: gaming site

Glossary Terms

Blood-bay A reddish variation on the bay color scheme

Canter an easy gallop Source: Infoplease.com

Cantle The rear part of the saddle, usually quite strong and high to support the rider Source: [12]

Close-coupled Short backed Source: search result page

Crouper (Middle English) The rump of a horse Source: search result page

Crupper Defence for a horse's rump. Source: Brittanica.com

Curvet a prancing leap of a horse in which the hind legs are raised just before the forelegs touch the ground Source: Brittanica.com

Fetlock 1 a projection bearing a tuft of hair on the back of the leg above the hoof of a horse 2: the joint of the limb at the fetlock Source: Brittanica.com

Headstall part of a bridle that fits over the horse’s head Source: Search result page

Mud-knot
Ally galloping 4
Source: http://www.foalstory.com/ally.html

Pommel On a saddle, the front upper 'curl' of the saddle bow.

Rowel a revolving disk with sharp marginal points at the end of a spur (rowelling- to goad with or as if with a rowel) Brittanica.com

Sumpter a pack animal Source: Brittanica.com

Troika a team of three horses driven abreast. Source: Infoplease.com

Withers: Point at the bottom of the horse's neck from which the horse's height is measured. Source http://horses.about.com/pets/horses/library/blglossaryW.htm?terms=withers