Medieval Horse Breeds

About Medieval Horses and Horse Breeds...

A discussion I've often participated in when using horses at events concerns what kinds of horses to use. This is a debate that is unlikely to ever end. However if I may make a few comments, perhaps if you read this it will help you form your own opinion in an educated manner.

Perhaps it is redundant to say, but if you are interested in being a medieval equestrian, you have to be an equestrian first, and worry about being a medieval reenactor second. Training is the most important criteria to consider when choosing a horse to bring to these kinds of events. The most historically authentic breed and turn out are far less important than having your horse trained and mannerly once at an event. I'm a person who's primary interest is in having historically correct equipment, but after all is said and done, I still say the first task is to acknowledge that we need to meet the needs of the horse before we concern ourselves with setting standards of authenticity.

Those folks concerned with historical accuracy should realize that horses are bred for different tasks. From all I have read on the subject I find that this notion drove horse breeds and horse breeding in the middle ages. The whole idea of a "breed" in the sense that we define modern horses is a fairly modern notion in either case. People knowledgeable about breeding will tell you in any case that breeds and breed conformation is plastic, as selective breeding can change the appearance of a particular breed over the course of a few decades. The time period and the fashion of that time period, dictate the type of horse a particular breed will become.

Medieval horses were defined by their confirmation and the role they were intended to be used for. There were highly refined and trained Destriers, smooth gaited Palfreys, long winded and strong Coursers, and general purpose Rouncies. In addition, ponies, mules and donkeys also played a vital role in society of the period. Since the scope of this article is to inform briefly about medieval horses, I'll limit myself to broad generalizations about a few types of horses. The reader wanting more detailed information should choose and read some of the books listed in the bibliography which is in another part of this web site. A number of those books deal specifically with the breeding and use of medieval horses.

Destrier- In the middle ages this referred to a well, bred, highly trained stallion used as a war or tournament horse. In the modern sense our closest equivalent is the high school dressage horse. This animal is a specialist mount, they were rare and very expensive even in the middle ages.

Palfrey- This is a well bred horse that was bred for general purpose riding, war and for travel. In the middle ages these were often gaited horses, but this is not necessarily an absolute requirement. If you were a person of substance in the middle ages, this is the horse you'd most likely own. Very finely bred mules were often bred for ladies or clergy and called Palfreys. These horses were also called Jennets, or Jenet (Fr.).

Courser- This is a catch-all description of a good cavalry horse in the middle ages. According to at least one recent book on the subject on medieval war horses, this was the most common type of horse used in warfare. Coursers were steady, long winded horses. They wouldn't be as refined or well trained as a Destrier, but then they didn't cost as much either. In the modern era, we'd call them endurance horses, hunters or working ranch horses.

Rouncy- This application fits general purpose combined work/riding horses. Rouncies were common grade horses of no particular breeding or training except that they were indispensable in getting from point A to point B and did the bulk of muscle work people called upon horses to perform. Another name they are referred to is as Hackneys. Does the modern expression "Hack Horse" have any meaning to you?

Just about any modern breed can fit into the broad characterizations of the above listed types. The only real exception comes with horses that are very typy in the Thoroughbred and large Draft breed confirmations.

The Thoroughbred is the breed developed in the massive selective breeding programs of the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe. They are the result of crossing and recrossing fairly solid native European type horses with desert bred horses to get a tall, lanky and fast horse. Generally speaking, they combine the size of the bulky European horse with the refined heads and long limbs of the desert breeds. As a type Thoroughbreds generally fit into the courser description, but they are somewhat too large and features too lean to represent medieval horses. However, since even within a modern horse breed there is still a fair amount of variation so even what I say here must be taken with a grain of salt. In know that examples of the breed I've seen in Europe tend to have more bone than the horse typically seen in North America. In any case, should you have a good Thoroughbred, just be sure that the horse isn't fresh off the track. The training (or lack of it) can be downright dangerous in the situations we often put our horses in.

As for the large draft breeds. Most people who read this will know that the Belgians, Shires, Percherons and other really large draft breeds were bred as beasts of burden and not to be knight's great horses, but I'll repeat that fact anyway. The Great Horse of the middle ages was not a draft animal. Heavy draft horses are not intended to run fast, or carry big men in armor. They are bred to be steady and pull heavy objects such as a plow through thick clay to turn a field, or heavy dray wagons. They have a plodding gait and simply are not fast enough.

There are many exceptions to the rule. One of the most frustrating things about studying this subject is the fact that it is just about impossible to say something unequivocally. Icelandic ponies for instance are a gaited pony breed. They are one of the most authentic breeds from the genetic as well as cultural standpoints you can find anywhere. They also fit into none of the categories listed above! The middle ages was a huge span of history with a wide range of animal management practices and cultural influences. To sum up, the only real way to learn about medieval horses is to learn much about modern horses since they are a living link to a fifty century tradition of partnership. Secondly, read as much on the topic as you can to keep abreast of the renaissance of scholarship by the people who are the real experts in this field of study on the topic of medieval horses and horsemanship.

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