Medieval Horses
Scott A. Story
People these days usually are not all that literate about horses, and unfortunately
that includes many writers and gamers who should know better.
1. Horse Classification
a. European horse stock was strongly influenced by Iberian
(Spanish) horses, or Moorish breeds, mainly the Arabian.
i. Andalusian are also later offshoots of Arabian, but not
strictly medieval. They were developed by Carthusian
monks in the 15th century.
b. Horses were classified by use, not breed.
i. Knights generally kept multiple horses, some for riding,
some for war. Some horses, such as coursers, were useful
for riding and war.
c. Most common coat colors were black, brown, bay, or gray, and
feathering on the legs was desired.
d. Horse are measured ground to withers, and the unit of
measurement is the “hand” which is 4”. Fractions after the
period reflect inches.
2. Primary Horse Types
a. Charger/Destrier/Great Horse
i. Bred for war and jousting, not riding or travel.
ii. Strong, hot-blooded, and combative
iii. 17 to 18 hands high, or perhaps 24+ hands tall.
iv. Those with red, triangular-shaped eyes were prized.
v. In terms of size and strength, modern Norman Cobs are
thought to be very close to destriers
b. Courser
i. Good riding horse, also used for hunting and for battle
ii. Majority of warhorses were coursers
iii. Light, fast, and strong, long-winded, smooth gate
iv. 15 to 16 hands high
c. Palfrey aka Ambler
i. Prized for riding, travel, hunting, ceremony, but not
usually used for war
ii. Its smooth gate made for a comfortable ride, and thus
very popular
1. Four beat gate known as an amble
iii. Jennets, aka Iberian Jennets, were small palfreys well
suited for ladies. They were also good for light cavalry or
skirmishing.
iv. Hobbies are an Irish variety of palfrey known for being
agile, lightweight, good for skirmishing, and could cover
60-70 miles per day.
1. Light cavalry soldiers who rode hobbies were
called hobelars.
d. Rouncey aka Hackney
i. General Purpose Horse, sometimes for battle
1. Pack Horse aka Sumpter Horse
2. Cart Horse aka Draught horse
3. Plow Horse aka Affras or Stot
3. Other Equine Types
a. Ponies
b. Mules
c. Asses, Donkeys, Burro
4. Horses by age and gender
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Colt--A male horse under 4 years old that has not been castrated.
Foal--A young horse.
Filly--A female horse under 5 years old never been bred
Gelding--A castrated male horse.
Mare--A female horse over 4 years old.
Stallion--A male horse over 4 years old that has not been castrated.
Yearling--A horse in the calendar year after its year of folding.
5. Gates
a. Canter--A three beat gait between a trot and a gallop.
b. Gallop--The fastest pace, with all the feet off the ground together in
each stride.
c. Trot--faster than a walk, lifting each diagonal pair of legs
alternately.
d. Amble—Comfortable four beat gate
e. Walk—Slowest gate
6. Travel Times
7. War Training
a. The horse is trained to go against its basic, skittish nature and
trample fallen people, bite and kick, and run toward danger, not
away. He had to be acclimated to the smell of blood and loud
noise.
b. The horse could be guided with knee pressure, leaving the rider’s
hands free for fighting/jousting
8. Horse Professionals
a. Stables
i. Ambler—officer of the Royal Stable who broke in horses
ii. Carter—Serve in the royal stables, and they answer to the
king’s master of the horses
iii. Clerk of the Stables—Serve in the royal stables, and they
answer to the king’s master of the horses.
iv. Farrier—Also called Farrowsmith, Ferrour, Shoesmith,
Horseleach, Vetenarian)—Horseshoe-maker, horse tack
maker, horse veterinarian, shoed horses. Part of the
farrier’s guild.
v. Gelder—Also called a castrator, he castrates farm
animals, especially horses
vi. Groom—Also called the Equerry, Stable hand,
Litterman, Horseman, Henchman, Hensman, and
Holster. He cares for horses, and is part of the farrier’s
guild.
vii. Horse Trainer—horse trainer
viii. Marshall: Translated as “horse servant,” he is also called
master of the horse or constable (meaning “count of the
stable”). He oversees all aspects of stables, travel, and
supply trains, military. He is an important official in the
royal household, third official of the royal household, a
peer and a privy councilor. All matters connected with
the horses of the sovereign, as well as the stables and
coach houses, the stud, mews are within his jurisdiction.
ix. Crown Equerry--Practical management of the Royal
Stables and studs devolves on the chief or Crown
Equerry, formerly called the Gentleman of the Horse
x. Nagsman—schools horses
b. Merchants
i. Hackneymen (horses for hire) Coper—dishonest dealer
in horses
ii. Horse Courser (horse seller)
iii. Horse-Capper—dealer in worthless horses
iv. Jobmaster—supplied carriages, horses and drivers for
hire
v. Prig Napper—horse thief
c. Users
i. Pricker—Skirmishers riding unarmored light horses
ii. Teamster—Also called Teamer, Teamer Man,
Muleskinner, and Muleteer. In charge of a team of horses
d. Equipment Makers
i. Collar Maker—made horse collars. Part of the leather
seller’s guild, the saddler’s guild, the currier’s guild, or
loriner’s guild.
ii. Fewster—maker of saddletrees. Part of the saddler’s
guild.
iii. Knacker—Harness maker, buyer of old horses and dead
animals
iv. Saddle Tree Maker—Made the frames for saddles that the
saddler used. Part of the saddler’s guild.
v. Saddler—Also called saddle maker, or whittawer. He
made saddles, harnesses, horse collars, bridles. Part of the
leather seller’s guild, the saddler’s guild, the currier’s guild,
or the loriner’s guild.
9. Equipment
a. Nailed Horseshoes
b. Stirrups
c. High-Cantled War Saddles
d. Bridle
e. Bit
f. Reins
g. Saddle Blanket
h. Spurs
i. Types
i. Harness
j. Trapper
k. Barding
10. Saddles
a. English Saddles
b. Knight’s Saddles
c. Side-Saddles—Not common, because women usually rode astride
as men did.
d. Saddle Parts
i. Horn
ii. Gullet
iii. Pommel
iv. Front Jockey
v. Cinch Strap
vi. Seat
vii. Cantle
viii. Read Jockey
ix. Skirt
x. Stings
xi. Fender
xii. Stirrup Leather
xiii. Stirrups
11. Horse Armor or Barding (I’ve used English usage here)
a. Plate Armor
i. Chanfron
ii. Peytral
iii. Crinet—Reticulated armor for back of neck
iv. Pommel—Front section of knight’s saddle
v. Cantel—Back/buttock section of knight’s saddle
vi. Crupper
vii. Tail-Guard
viii. Flanchard—Between petrel and crupper, guards lower
flank
ix. Armored reins
x. Escutcheon—small shield over chanfron between horse’s
eyes
xi. Ear Guards—Part of Chanfron
12. Anatomy
a. Back
b. Belly
c. Croup
d. Fetlock
e. Flank
f. Forelock
g. Girth
h. Hamstring
i. Hip
j. Hock
k. Hoof
l. Knee
m. Loins
n. Mane
o. Muzzle
p. Pastern
q. Tail
r. Thigh
s. Withers
13. Colors
a. Color Groups
i. Bay
ii. Black
iii. Brown
iv. Chestnut
b. Other Colors
i. Sorrel
ii. Palomino
iii. Buckskin or Dun
iv. Cream
v. Gray
vi. Dapple Gray
vii. Gullo
viii. Blue Roan
ix. Red Roan
x. Appaloosa
xi. Paint vs. Pinto
c. Colors and Patterns
i. Roan & Dapples
ii. Tabiano & Ovaro
iii. Appaloosa Patterns
14. Markings
a. Face
i. Star
ii. Snip
iii. Lip Marks
iv. White Muzzle
v. Stripe
vi. Blaze
vii. Bald
b. Hair Patterns
i. Whorl
c. Legs & Hooves
i. Coronet
ii. Partial Eastern
iii. Pastern
iv. Sock
v. Boot
vi. Stocking
vii. Zebra, Stripes & Bars
viii. Black Points
ix.
x.
xi.
xii.
d. Stripes
i.
ii.
iii.
Black Hoof
Blue Hoof
Striped Hoof
Feathers
Dorsal Stripe
Eel Stripe
Should Stripe