ave
I am interested in various types of bits and bridles used by the Roman cavalry - time period is wide but let us say from 2c. BC to 6th c AD (Byzantine Romans too
).
especially I am interested in those devices known as psalion and hackamore. Psalion is evidenced on the Roman funerary relief sculpture, and examples were found in some digs, I believe, in Britain. Psalion is present in the Persian art and archeology, but its workings are understood well?
I wonder whether Romans used hackamore - as evidenced in the Persian relief art. I understand that the same as the Spanish and American hackamore the Roman hackamore was made out of leather but perhaps after the Persian fashion the Roman one could have had metal hooks or rings attaching the so called third rein?
Hyland does some explaining on the subject in her book on Arrian cavalry training - but lately I am very suspicious of her writing and expertise as applied to the ancient horsemanship, perhaps of all of those 'humane treatment' innuedos that are plentiful in her books.
any information and discussion will be very appreciated
thanks
dario
Quote:I wonder whether Romans used hackamore
They certainly did!
Titus Flavius Bassus' horse wears one..
http://www.romanarmy.com/cms/component/ ... Itemid,94/
Here's a nice reconstruction..
[url:13h82z23]http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b242/peronis/horsebit.jpg[/url]
thanks for the image!
this reconstruction, whatever I can decipher from this medley of great equestrian equipment, looks more like mechanical hackamore or even a psalion...
more pictures?
Dear Dario,
I too have been reseraching the use of horse equipment. As a showjumping rider I'm very interested in how the romans rode and used their horses. My search seems to differ between bits of the snaffle type ( current day term of two rings joined by two shafts with a nutcracker action as depicted in the image so kindly supplied by Marcus.
I have also seen a straightbar mouth piece that has no bend hence no nutcracker action on the bars of the mouth.
In modern day, the term hackamore is used for bridles with no bit! Such bridles work on nose pressure. there are many current bridles that have both mouthpieces and hackamore pressure points in current day jumping.
What is common in all the roman bridles researched is the crude iron nose piece that goes across the Horse' nose. This part of teh horses nose is very soft and very prone to injury through such bridles being used by bad riders.
Most modern day hackamore bridles use leather, flat pieced & gentle on teh nose or often padded, or concealed in tubing, a stronger type of material for a noseband.
Obviously, the romans developed a bridle that worked on the bars on the mouth through a bit PLUS the extra brakes of a hackamore nose band. So it has been an eye opener to see that the very same concept that I see used today in many forms maybe derived from the romans.
I jump my top horse in a hackamore. Though no mouthpiece, can be very gentle if used correctly and sympathetically.
Dario,
I have also attached a picture of a snaffle bit. It is probably teh most common bit used to day and throughout the centuries. Though later we would see the emergence of the straightbar bit with shanks for greater leaverage as used during teh crusades as teh horses were larger more powerful horses needing extra brakes.
In a horses mouth, he has a row of teeth across the front, then a large gap either sider of which then appear the molars. In between this gap lie two bars either side of teh mouth of which teh bit lies across and teh pressure applied causes the horse to repsond...directionally or basically to stop if taught correctly. Nutcracker action does exactly that applies pressur eto either both or one bar at a time.
Sorry for bitting lesson but it may help explain the severeness of some bits as some horses have HARD or soft mouths therefore requiring different bits.
In current day terms, if I saw a horse being ridden in a bridle that had both a bit and a hackamore noseband i woudl assume it was a very strong/difficult horse to bit.
Its widely known the Romans were not natural horseman, often replaced with auxiliary native riders, so my conclusion would be they needed all teh help they coudl muster up in controlling a horse. Those roman bridles would surely stop a horse on a dime!!!!
lastly a modern day hackamore & bit combination.
Rodoe guys love these as they have to stop their hardy fast quarter horses and turn quickly.
This bridle has a snaffle bit and the hackamore. Maybe teh romans did know a thing or two about horse control?
Rubicon -
Thanks for the link - amazing pictures. I've been trying to figure out a way to turn my Percheron into a Roman warpony but we'll just have to settle with trying to get the riding equipment right since I cannot shrink him from 18 hands to 14. :oops:
Tasia
Hahaha I wish you the very best! I have a 17.3HH Warmlolood, who I cant even begin to imagine charging in battle. With Size 11 feet, he has big canter but not fast! Though courageous when he jumps, i do question his bravery, particularly if legion banners were flying in the wind?
I hope you will keep me informed of your transformation!
My warpony does great with the swordfighting stuff! When he's not scaring the other horses anyway! He got too big to fit in the trailer I had though so he hasn't been to a medieval event in a couple of years.
Size 11?? I didn't know hooves went that high! My boy is only a size 8 - but I don't keep him in shoes.
Quote:This bridle has a snaffle bit and the hackamore.
Is that called a hackamore today or does it have a funky noseband sort of a name?
As for Titus Flavius Bassus' horse, I just see the curb bit and don't see the "hackamore" part. And again, on the reconstruction, I'd tend to call that something like a "mechanical cavesson" since it's attached to a bit.
Rubicon - I've seen some nasty hackamores on show jumpers. Makes me want to scream "learn how to train your horse!! Oh and learn how to ride too!!" Funny how the "old" show jumpers typically use basic snaffles and maybe a double bridle but the newer riders keep "inventing" crazy bits to get their horses to stop. Polo riders are just as bad at times.
Unfortunattely. bad riders and bad horsemanship is prevalent in all horse sports at all levels, even to the new found 'natural horsemanship' trends you see so common these days. Knowledge in the wrong hands is a dangerous tool. What is right for a horse, is determined in the horse's safety and well being foremost. To say the snaffle bit is the gentlest or most natural; high level dressage or weekend horse riding, is better than the other has no significance. It merely depends on the horse doing his task happily, confidently and SAFELY.
Anyway this isnt the forum to discuss cruelty or what is better,or who can or can't ride, for after 15 years of top level competition i have seen unfortunate situations, but at the same time, even more ridiculous situations of horses being ill treated under the title of natural horsemanship or liberty work.
As for a mechanical cavesson, I have never heard of that term and I was merely iillustrating that the crude metal noseband would have had one action and that would be to apply pressure to the nose area. In this case, attached to the bit, everytime the shanks moved, pressure would be applied, almost constanty as shown by the bit sitting correctly on the model. In a normal bitless hackamore, pressure is applied to the nose only and in gentle hands can be a wonderful bridle. But I agree, today, where the art of horsemanship and true correct balanced riding seems less and less prevalent, riders look for new bridles and bits to replace good old riding ability. But again, I have seen this from Barrel racing with twisted shanked straight bars, polo with their headchecks, dressage with double bridles in rigid hands, to the showjumping world, where lack of education is replaced with cruel unbalanced riding...unfortunately it is the horse who does not have a say.
Sorry for the tone of this but as an educated qualified Riding Instructor & showjumping rider, two many horseowners point the finger and sometimes overlook the broadbase range of abuse in all facets of horse ownership.,..Cheers.
Unfortunattely. bad riders and bad horsemanship is prevalent in all horse sports at all levels, even to the new found 'natural horsemanship' trends you see so common these days. Knowledge in the wrong hands is a dangerous tool. What is right for a horse, is determined in the horse's safety and well being foremost. To say the snaffle bit is the gentlest or most natural; high level dressage or weekend horse riding, is better than the other has no significance. It merely depends on the horse doing his task happily, confidently and SAFELY.
Anyway this isnt the forum to discuss cruelty or what is better,or who can or can't ride, for after 15 years of top level competition i have seen unfortunate situations, but at the same time, even more ridiculous situations of horses being ill treated under the title of natural horsemanship or liberty work.
As for a mechanical cavesson, I have never heard of that term and I was merely iillustrating that the crude metal noseband would have had one action and that would be to apply pressure to the nose area. In this case, attached to the bit, everytime the shanks moved, pressure would be applied, almost constanty as shown by the bit sitting correctly on the model. In a normal bitless hackamore, pressure is applied to the nose only and in gentle hands can be a wonderful bridle. But I agree, today, where the art of horsemanship and true correct balanced riding seems less and less prevalent, riders look for new bridles and bits to replace good old riding ability. But again, I have seen this from Barrel racing with twisted shanked straight bars, polo with their headchecks, dressage with double bridles in rigid hands, to the showjumping world, where lack of education is replaced with cruel unbalanced riding...unfortunately it is the horse who does not have a say.
Sorry for the tone of this but as an educated qualified Riding Instructor & showjumping rider, two many horseowners point the finger and sometimes overlook the broadbase range of abuse in all facets of horse ownership.,..Cheers.
Tasia, maybe the sizes range differently as my normal 16.3 thoroughbred here who has very small feet takes a size 8.
I understand horses not fitting, we have just purchased a new 5 horse truck with living to accomodate our oversize warmbloods!
They dont even fit in our two horse trailer by themselves!~
Anyway back to teh discussion of roman bits, yes?
D D D