"The Horses of Medieval Times Weren’t Much Bigger" Topic

…Than Modern-Day Ponies

"n the Lord of the Rings movies, Aragorn and his fellow riders mount massive steeds that tower over their bretheren, and in the more based-on-truth epics, knights' horses inspire awe or fear in their enemies. But these powerful equines were likely a much slighter, daintier animal, according to new research published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. By modern standards, medieval warhorses were likely no larger than a pony.

In the largest-ever study of horse bones to date, research by five English universities study examined the bones of nearly 2,000 horses. The specimens, which date from the 4th to 17th centuries, were recovered from 171 unique archaeological sites including castles and medieval horse cemeteries. The team then compared the dataset to samples taken from modern horses to get a clearer picture of the sizes and shapes of the medieval steeds…"

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Armand

The author does realize that The Lord of the Rings is a fictional story, right?

Next they will say that Oliphants as described in the book and movie are bigger than elephants.

I think this has been known for a long time. I remember some book by a lady author that discussed this decades ago.

This article, as the page indicates, appeared a couple of years ago but I don't believe it was discussed on TMP.

I remember some book by a lady author that discussed this decades ago

@Deucey- The lady author you have in mind may be Ann Hyland author of The warhorse, 1250-1600 (1998).

I gather she worked with John Clarke of the Museum of London author of The medieval horse and its equipment, c.1150-c.1450 (2004) measuring armour, horse shoes and other artefacts to investigate this question.

Alternatively, Mary Littauer- more a specialist in horses of the ancient world- also published on the topic:
'How Great was the 'Great Horse'? A Reassessment of the Evidence' M.A. Littauer and J.H. Crouwel, in Selected Writings on Chariots, other Early Vehicles, Riding and Harness (Brill, 2002) pp. 452-459.

This study was indeed first published in Light Horse, vol. 13 (no. 144, 2/6), 1963, pp.350-352.

Also worth noting this detail:
"The archaeologists note a few limitations to their study, including the challenge of ensuring they're really looking at warhorses, and not equines used for agriculture or other labor. But because all the horse remains the team examined were small, it's likely that warhorses were pony-sized, too."

Thanks

Armand

Ancestors of Modern Horses Had Hooved Toes Instead of Single Hoof

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Armand

When the horse dies, if it doesn't have a sign around its neck stamped with "farm worker" then how do they know what it was used for? I mean you can guess (a lot) about what this or that horse was likely employed as, but the study itself is just specious in the extreme.

the study itself is just specious in the extreme.

I am inclined to agree

7 Medieval War Horse Breeds

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Armand

7 Medieval War Horse Breeds….
…Destriers were generally taller and resembled modern draft horses. They had to be able to carry a fully armored knight, as well as their own armor.

To put it politely- this article is re-iterating erronious conceptions that have been discredited for a good long while.

The author – "Degree course in Equine and Veterinary Biosciences (pending)" may know one end of a horse from the other but I fear she knows hee haw about medieval military history.

Glup!…

Armand