tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post1038392767953498143..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: Horse Heredity in the Dark AgesDebra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-61642710347911639582017-03-29T14:26:44.420-07:002017-03-29T14:26:44.420-07:00Very interesting, thanks.
"The only time a w...Very interesting, thanks.<br /><br />"The only time a warhorse was put to work was in combat (well, maybe he was used in the hunt, too)."<br /><br />There would also be considerable time taken up with training. You can ride a horse at the age of 2 or 3 but he's not fully developed until he's 4. Even the bravest young stallion is going to require some conditioning to be able to carry a rider into battle even after he’s been broken to accept a rider and understand basic commands. (He’s still a bit of a brainless baby, even at age 4.) A horse is a prey animal whose first instinct is to run from something scary. If you look at police horses today and how much training they need to be able to face a rioting mob, that's the equivalent to training a horse to ride into battle. Also war horses were trained in aggressive moves. A capriole (leaping into the air on the spot and lashing backwards with both hind feet) is very pretty today in a riding display, but it was originally a battle move that could take out any rider getting too close behind you. (See youtube of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna training their stallions to do this.)<br />jaceybedfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09938882756656396830noreply@blogger.com