What kind of horses did knights ride?

Answer 1

Most knights in the late Middle ages put armor on their horses called Barding. This protective armor consisted of around 6 parts. You could use one piece or you could use all pieces. Below is a link on Barding: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barding

Answer 2

Knights usually rode draft horses as only the big, strong horses could carry a knight in full armor into battle. King George VIII had a law that said that only stallions (male horses) above 14 hh (Hands, 1 hand equals 4 in.) could carry knights. If a knight was caught with a mount smaller than 14 hh, the horse would be slaughtered. The rule later changed to 15 h. Later, Queen Elizabeth relinquished both these rules.

--starsun22, horse maniac

Answer 3

The first use of horses in warfare occurred over 5000 years ago. In the Middle Ages, horses differed in size, build and breed from the modern horse, and were, on average, smaller. Horses in the Middle Ages were rarely differentiated by breed, but rather by use. This led them to be described, for example, as "chargers" (war horses), "palfreys" (riding horses), cart horses or packhorses.

Horses in the Middle Ages were rarely differentiated by breed, but rather by use. This led them to be described, for example, as "chargers" (war horses), "palfreys" (riding horses), cart horses or packhorses.

A mounted knight, covered with armor and mounted on a sturdy steed, was considered the ultimate fighting machine at the time. The knight's body was almost completely protected with metal plates held together with screws, straps, buckles, and hinges that could weigh well over 100 pounds in all.

Good war horses were in great demand and were very expensive. The horse had to be strong enough to carry the armored knight long distances and be capable of maneuvering in battle with quick attacks. It also had to be bold and courageous, willing to plunge headlong into the confusion and violence of war.

So what breed of horse was this indomitable destrier? Equine historians have debated this topic for years. Some believe the war horses were huge beasts standing 18 hands tall, ancestors of breeds like the Shire, Belgian, and Percheron. More recent evidence, however, suggests that the medieval war horses were of average height - 14 or 15 hands, and while they were certainly stout and muscular, they didn't have nearly the girth of a modern draft horse.

How do they know this? Saddles, armor, and other items the horses wore have been measured and compared with modern equine equipment. The old fittings indicate that these legendary steeds were about the same size as the modern stock horse, perhaps comparable to a muscular Quarter Horse of foundation breeding.

The modern horse breeds that best fit the descriptions of the ancient war horse of Europe are the Friesian, the Holstein, and the Norman. A sub-breed of the Norman, the Norman Cob, is most likely the closest descendant of the mount the knight rode into battle.

How did a more or less average-sized horse carry a knight and his heavy armor? Humans in Europe were much smaller during the Middle Ages than they are today. The average man was only about 5'3" and weighed about 120 pounds. Add 100 pounds of armor to that, and you get 220 pounds. A short, stocky horse of average height, with good bone and muscling, would have no problem carrying the weight. A horse can fairly easily carry 20% of its own weight. If these chargers weighed 1,200 pounds, a burden of 220 pounds would certainly not be too much for them to bear.

We may never know exactly what breed the knights rode, or what modern breeds carry their bloodlines. From the evidence that has been recovered, however, along with the weight theory, we know that the animals were probably not the ancestors of our modern draft giants.

Answer 4

The same way a person normally does it. Put one foot in a stirrup, and swing the other up and over. Normally the squire would hold the horse steady if necessary.

Answer 5

Stirrups