Warrior Ancient and Medieval Rules

[DBBeatty]

I did a lot of real cowboy stuff in my misspent youth, and I'm here to tell you that chasing cows through the mountains of Colorado without stirrups would be nigh impossible. They provided me stability that enabled rapid movement through rough terrain and open woodland. I must admit that I never attempted to wield a sword from horseback but did throw a few loops around calves that had not desire to be caught... and without stirrups I'd a been drug plumb off my horse...

Having said all that... if stirrups were so important to wielding a lance in a charge of shock cavalry how was it that Alexander's Macedonian cavalry were able to do it?

So I must agree with Scott - stirrups are nice to have, but obviously played no role for Alexander.

Far more important was saddle and bit technology (specifically the invention of the curb bit prior to 800 BC - see my 8 Sep 2001 post in the Society of Ancients forum on bits). I'm also told that Robert Drew discusses it some in his book "Early Riders - the Beginning of Mounted Warfare" but I've not read it.

Cheers,

Dave Beatty