> Most of the -psychological- effect of a cavalry charge takes effect
before
> contact.
>
> Also, the present-day British Household Cavalry stay on by having
> sheepskins strapped to their horses, and wearing long leather boots
with
> the insides of the thighs roughened. They only use stirrups at all
because
> the sergeants yell at them if they don't (source, a wargaming friend
who
> serves in that unit). It's my conclusion that stirrups only become
> important when riders are wearing metal armour on their legs.
>
I remember reading somewhere that the actual advantage of stirrups is
the ability to stand up in the saddle - I think it's biggest advantage
is for the more recent style of lancing (Lace War/Napoleonic era) where
their main purpose was to ride down broken infantry, and the ability to
throw their bodyweight behind the lance was a serious advantage.
Probably it would also give more range to a swordsman on horseback, but
since my swordfighting skills are limited to poor fencing, and I haven't
ridden a horse in nearly twenty years, that could well be my imagination
;-)
ps Changed list!
Richard
richard.sands_at_...
richard_at_...
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