From: The Medieval Warhorse, From Byzantium to the Crusades, by Ann Hyland.
P. 126 "Meng Hung, a Chinese general and contemporary of Genghis Khan, who met the Mongol general Muqali in 1221, noted that the Mongol ponies were not fed grain or beans. A little later a writer in the Hei-Ta Shih Lueh remarked they had no fodder, only grass. When Friar John of Plano Carpini arrived at Kiev on his way to the court of Kuyuk Khan (1246-8) he was advised to change to 'Tatar' horses as they knew how to dig for grass beneath the snow, unlike western horses, which would die if he continued his journey on them."
"They travelled with herds of horses; and sometimes with flocks of
sheep as well as their families, speed being restricted to the slower
pace needed to herd animals along, but on major campaigns they could
cover 80 miles (130km) a day on good going, and 60 (95) in the
mountains as did Batu Khan's army negotiating the Carpathians in the
winter of 1241 to invade Hungary"
P. 127 "When Subodei was called from his winter quarters opn the delta of the rivers Kura and Araxes on the Caspian Sea he rode over 1200 miles (1950km) to Genghis Khan's newly conquered Khwarazmian capital in Sarmakand. He returned to rest in winter quarters before embarking on a two-year reconnaisance in force into Europe (during which he would cover 5,500 miles (8,850km) and fight over a dozen battles). As he had been summoned to Genghis Khan after Muhammad Shah died on 10 January 1221, ridden over 2,400 miles (3,900km) by his return and was ready to leave with the reconnaisance force in late February, Mongol rest must have differed from our perception of the term."
P. 130 "There are many references to the usual practice of Mongol horses going unshod. Thomas, Archdeacon of Spalato (1268), noted that in the invasion of Hungary in 1241 the Mongol horses 'ran around on rock and stones without hoseshoes as if they were goats', and an anonymous poem in Latin written about the same invasion als remarked this fact."
"Each Mongols equipment included a string of horses which facilitated
speed by frequent change of mounts before tiredness set in; the
number has been variousl given. Marco Polo said eighteen head; Hsu
T'ing said that different times there were two to three, or six to
seven; Meng Hung that six or seven spares were led on occassion..."
P. 131 "For every 1000 men, 2,000 to 5,000 horses were required."
P. 133 "That there were Mongol horses big enough to be succesfully used for roping, and heavy enough to carry full armour, is shown by those intrepid friars. Friar William, who was extremely overweight by his own admission, said he was always provided with a strong horse; and Vincent of Beauvais remarked on the 'big stout palfreys the rich Mongol ladies ride."
P. 133 "Marco Polo was impressed by the Mongol horse's agility, noting that 'their horses are so well trained that they can turn as quickly as a dog."
P. 134 "Lassoing needed a horse to brace away from impact, and a close order charge the reverse with the horse impelling his weight into any riding off dictated by the rider."
P. 135, one of Genghis Khan's laws:
"Take care of the led horses in your troop, before they loose
condition. For once they have lost it,m you may spare them as much
as you will, they will never recover it on campaign... You will
encounter much game on the march. Do not let the men go after it...
do not let the men tie anything to the back of the saddle. Bridles
are not to be worn on the march - the horses are to have their mouths
free. If this is done, the men cannot march at a gallop. If an
order has been given, then those who disobey it must be beaten and
put under arrest. But as for those who have disobeyed my personal
orders, send those who are worth serious consideration to me. The
rest, the unimportant ones, are to be beheaded on the spot."
If anyone wants me to look for interesting cavalry related stuff for a period, give me a shout. I am browsing this book not working through it cover to cover yet.
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