09-27-2013, 10:22 AM
Quote:The three horsemen are stunt-riders on highly trained horses, the average cavalryman and mount of the past were probably less adept.
Quite the contrary - they were more adept, in case of elite heavy cavalry formations at least.
Quote:I think a squadron of 100+ men in two ranks galloping at speed, trying to keep knee to knee over imperfect ground would quickly degenerate - with many falls and also injuries to riders legs from banging against a neighbouring horse's flanks.
I've read that there is a pre-WW2 newsreel showing a Polish cavalry parade, during which a unit of cavalry was galloping at speed in a close knee-to-knee formation (without falls and injuries!).
Quote:I understand that polo matches can be pretty full on & horses & their riders do a lot of turning, twisting & sprinting so how tired is your horse/horses after a match & does it need recovery time after games?
The same refers to western riding competitions (rapidly stopping, turning back & around in place, etc.):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pam6YhqSzQ