User:Gwinva/HitMA


 * Sandbox for Horses in the Middle Ages
 * Feel free to work on stuff here before it goes into the article

Equestrianism
From: -- C. M. Gillmor; "Cavalry, European." Dictionary of the Middle Ages. 13 vols. American Council of Learned Societies. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1989. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale. http://0-galenet.galegroup.com.www.elgar.govt.nz:80/servlet/History/ (subscription). I don't know if this counts as a RS since it is a dictionary. Ealdgyth will know.

Not all of western Europe adopted the shock tactics of heavy cavalry. The Magyars never developed heavy cavalry because of their constant exposure to Turkish mounted archers. In Reconquest Spain, where the rapid maneuver of a marauding band favored light cavalry, the Crusaders copied the equipment and riding techniques of the Muslims. In the style called a la jinete, the knight rode with short stirrups on a flat saddle and controlled the horse with a spade bit. This device exerted pressure on the palate, forcing the horse to turn far more quickly than by pulling at the sides of the mouth with a snaffle bit. Both Muslims and Christians remarked that the high cantle of the saddle used by the heavily armed knight riding a la brida, or with long stirrups, enabled the rider to withstand a powerful lance thrust in close combat. The Spanish also practiced the tactical maneuver of torna-fuye, simulated flight and counterattack, expressed by the Muslims as karr-wa-farr.

Modern investigation of medieval battles indicates that the knights had the discipline to fight in tactical units and were capable of executing a feigned retreat. Simulated flight is a tactical maneuver requiring a cohesion and a synchronization of forces that can be achieved only through practice in campaigns. Expert coordination is especially critical in the timing of the withdrawal, the planning of the distance to be covered, and the turning movement itself. Developed by light cavalry in the steppes of Asia and southern Russia, the tactic was transmitted to the Byzantines and the Magyars.


 * I'd count it, it is more an encyclopedia than a dictionary. But obviously, secondary sources beat tertiary ones when available.  That source is a bit superficial, though, and they have NO CLUE how a spade bit works, it does put pressure on the palate, but it doesn't force the horse to turn...sigh...and we have long disposed of the issue of the high cantle and lance thrust issue.  A high cantle helps if you are sitting back, behind the motion, when a horse accelerates, but to take a lance thrust...no...you found the stuff on that.  It is accurate that the Magyars were respected horsemen.   Montanabw (talk) 04:01, 5 May 2008 (UTC)

Random

 * In 732, Pope Gregory III banned the eating of horsemeat. This proscription was ignored, or forgotten, in most of Europe, but was observed in England throughout the Middle Ages, causing old horses to be almost worthless.

Interesting, and of course the USA has the same taboo today.

Spade bits
FYI, here is a page of old bits. The second image on the page is a Spade, and all others are properly identified: http://www.cowboygear.com/bits.html  (Hmmm.  I recognize one of those items there, you will too! LOL!)

Before we go much farther, I'd better add this: source:   http://www.elvaquero.com/The%20Spade.htm

"The spade is what is known as a "signal" bit. The long tapering port, complete with spoon, cricket and copper covered braces is configured in such a way as to encourage and allow the horse to "pick up" the bit in his mouth and "carry it."

Ironically, horses trained in this discipline are not to be yanked on. Their mouths are respected and protected; saved at all costs. The sensitivity of the spade bit horse is prized. That sensitivity would not remain if the process of making a spade bit horse was severe. The truly great "velvet mouthed" spade bit horses have benefited from a long intricate series of training steps that have prepared them to carry the spade.

The old vaqueros started their horses in hackamores, then moved on to the two rein process involving a small hackamore known as a bosal that fits under the bridle and is used in conjunction with the bridle and then finally into the bridle alone. Modern horsemen have added a snaffle bit to the beginning training of a young horse and then move on through the traditional stages from there.

Horses are suppled and softened, trained in all maneuvers and movements that they will later be asked to perform in the spade. By the time a horse carries the spade, the bit’s only purpose is to receive the subtle signals sent by the rider’s hands. Note the soft thin leather curb strap used on the spade. It has little or no function. Messages are delicately telegraphed down the reins and to the shank of the bit where its slightest movement equally moves the long intricate port. The horse feels and responds to a message, not to pressure. While the many leverage bit user’s hands scream their instructions, the spade bit horseman’s hands softly suggest their requests." - If you read the whole article, you will see that Spade Bit people are sort of in their own unique world and critical of most everything else, but they have an honored tradition that is probably one of the oldest in horsemanship.

But also, put simply, in the middle of a battle, a spade bit on a highly trained horse might be a bad idea; one jerk from an enemy (or an unbalanced rider) and a highly-trained, sensitive horse would be non-functional. However, for an ill-trained, freight train of a horse, a very harsh leverage bit might be the only thing that would work. Sort of. But it would be mean. (But some of those old medieval bits seen in museums WERE pretty scary!)  Montanabw (talk) 04:40, 5 May 2008 (UTC)