heavy cavalry engaging heavy cavalry

[Domen]

Not an efficient way of making a charge - charge knee to knee at the trot, or charge at the gallop in a more open order.

A charging unit could initially advance in loose order and close their ranks soon before clashing vs the enemy. Primary sources confirm that Polish-Lithuanian hussars were able to perform such maneuvers.

looking over the ground beforehand, or choosing the ground to be charged over would usually not take place to any great degree. One horse in the front rank hits a pothole

In the battle of Vienna in 1683 ground for a massive charge of 20,000 cavalry (spearheaded by ca. 3,000 hussars) was carefully prepared. Before the main charge also some reconnaissance charges by small units were carried out, to check where the ground was most favourable for a massive charge.

Front of that charging cavalry formation was around 4 km wide. 20,000 riders charged downhill:

Obóz turecki - Turkish camp
Wiedeń - the city of Vienna (defended by garrison under Starhemberg)