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Redhawk · 9th September 2006, 08:28 PM

I know this is an old original post...but since I love Horses, as much as I do reading and writing...I thought I'd post it just the same.

While this information (from Wikipedia) is probably fairly accurate over all, I would not discard that the Shire draft horse was one of the more popular heavy draft breeds used in the Middle Ages as a riding horse for Knights wearing heavy armor.

The Friesian would have been a very likely breed too, as they have more agility than the average Shire or Suffolk Punch, but still have a fair amount of size, weight and strength to carry all that pot metal riding on top. Remember too often the horse had armor of its own to carry in addition to the rider!

My personal studies and thoughts are that because heavy horse cost a fair amount of money to start with (as echoed by Wikipedia) and they also cost a LOT comparatively to feed, they were not the “only” warhorses! More than likely there were more "light horse" and mid-weight horse used by those fighting than "heavy horse" due to the cost of purchase/breeding and raising such animals and subsequent feeding of them on what might be a long trip or campaign to war.

Why the individuals working to save the Suffolk Punch would not harvest or would fail to mention the harvesting of eggs, is a crap shoot.

Colorado State University developed a technique for collecting an egg (oocyte) from a given mare and transfering it to a recipient as early as 1999. The first batch of successful births from frozen eggs happened in 2001 with the initial work being done in 2000. If I remember correctly the success rate is about 30-50% for eggs being alive when thawed in current efforts of this nature.

destrier
A destrier is a historical term for a knight's war horse. The term destrier is derived from the Vulgar Latin 'dextrarius,' meaning right-hand.
There are many theories as to what "type" and size destriers attained, though it now seems clear they were not enormous draft types. Equestrian statues in Italy suggest a "Spanish" style of horse that today would be referred to as Baroque. Modern attempts to reproduce destriers usually involve crossing a lighter, more athletic horse with something heavier. One example is the "Spanish Norman," bred by crossing a Percheron with an Andalusian. Modern estimates put the heights at no more than 16 hands, though with a strong and heavy physique.
Northern European depictions seem to suggest a heavy quarterhorse. The Friesian horse, 14.2 to 17 hands high, is is said to have been used as destrier in medieval times in Northern Europe. Due to its heavy, muscular physique today's Friesian is not suited to aerobic sports like all-out racing, but it is an excellent dressage and student horse famous for its imposing presence and spectacular trot. When harnesses fell out of use, Andalusian blood was added to the Friesian lighten its weight.
A good destrier was expensive. 7th century Salic law gives a price of 12 solidi as weregild, or reparational payment, for a war horse, compared to 3 solidi for a sound mare or 1 solidus for a cow. In later centuries destriers became even more expensive: the average value of the horses of a company of 22 knights and squires in the county of Flanders in 1297 compares to the price of seven normal coursers (J. de St. Genois, Inventoire analytique des chartes de comtes de Flandres, Ghent, 1843-1846). The price of these destriers varied between 20 and 300 livres parisis (parisian pounds), compared to 5 to 12 livres for a normal courser. Horses of kings and important nobles could be even more expensive. Mounted knights would take a number of horses campainging, different horses and breeds for seperate tasks. A destrier fit for battle would be properly trained as well as of a breed physically capable of carrying a mounted soldier in battle kit.

An thats my history drivel for today...

9th September 2006, 08:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Redhawk Always and never changing Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 143	Re: Saving a Knight's Charger I know this is an old original post...but since I love Horses, as much as I do reading and writing...I thought I'd post it just the same. While this information (from Wikipedia) is probably fairly accurate over all, I would not discard that the Shire draft horse was one of the more popular heavy draft breeds used in the Middle Ages as a riding horse for Knights wearing heavy armor. The Friesian would have been a very likely breed too, as they have more agility than the average Shire or Suffolk Punch, but still have a fair amount of size, weight and strength to carry all that pot metal riding on top. Remember too often the horse had armor of its own to carry in addition to the rider! My personal studies and thoughts are that because heavy horse cost a fair amount of money to start with (as echoed by Wikipedia) and they also cost a LOT comparatively to feed, they were not the “only” warhorses! More than likely there were more "light horse" and mid-weight horse used by those fighting than "heavy horse" due to the cost of purchase/breeding and raising such animals and subsequent feeding of them on what might be a long trip or campaign to war. Why the individuals working to save the Suffolk Punch would not harvest or would fail to mention the harvesting of eggs, is a crap shoot. Colorado State University developed a technique for collecting an egg (oocyte) from a given mare and transfering it to a recipient as early as 1999. The first batch of successful births from frozen eggs happened in 2001 with the initial work being done in 2000. If I remember correctly the success rate is about 30-50% for eggs being alive when thawed in current efforts of this nature. destrier A destrier is a historical term for a knight's war horse. The term destrier is derived from the Vulgar Latin 'dextrarius,' meaning right-hand. There are many theories as to what "type" and size destriers attained, though it now seems clear they were not enormous draft types. Equestrian statues in Italy suggest a "Spanish" style of horse that today would be referred to as Baroque. Modern attempts to reproduce destriers usually involve crossing a lighter, more athletic horse with something heavier. One example is the "Spanish Norman," bred by crossing a Percheron with an Andalusian. Modern estimates put the heights at no more than 16 hands, though with a strong and heavy physique. Northern European depictions seem to suggest a heavy quarterhorse. The Friesian horse, 14.2 to 17 hands high, is is said to have been used as destrier in medieval times in Northern Europe. Due to its heavy, muscular physique today's Friesian is not suited to aerobic sports like all-out racing, but it is an excellent dressage and student horse famous for its imposing presence and spectacular trot. When harnesses fell out of use, Andalusian blood was added to the Friesian lighten its weight. A good destrier was expensive. 7th century Salic law gives a price of 12 solidi as weregild, or reparational payment, for a war horse, compared to 3 solidi for a sound mare or 1 solidus for a cow. In later centuries destriers became even more expensive: the average value of the horses of a company of 22 knights and squires in the county of Flanders in 1297 compares to the price of seven normal coursers (J. de St. Genois, Inventoire analytique des chartes de comtes de Flandres, Ghent, 1843-1846). The price of these destriers varied between 20 and 300 livres parisis (parisian pounds), compared to 5 to 12 livres for a normal courser. Horses of kings and important nobles could be even more expensive. Mounted knights would take a number of horses campainging, different horses and breeds for seperate tasks. A destrier fit for battle would be properly trained as well as of a breed physically capable of carrying a mounted soldier in battle kit. An thats my history drivel for today...