02-01-2003, 08:36 PM
"I have my centurion buying a horse for his own personal use from a local British horse-trader. I say the horse has Iberian blood but I don't know if this is logical or reasonable."<br>
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I think the ancient Iberian stock was pretty primitive and ugly and would not have had any advantage over the ancient British breeds that were around at the time and were more or less the same size. In fact there is no reason you cannot find a suitable 'candidate' for your centurion from amongst the British ponies.<br>
The Exmoor for example is a very ancient breed-amongst the oldest in the world-and has changed little in the last 2000 years. It is very, very strong, noted for it's galloping ability and able to carry weight well out of proportion for it's size. So it would have no problem carrying a fully equipped cavalry-or infantryman for that matter. The couple of Exmoors kept by a riding school i went to as a kid were ridden almost exclusively by adults as they were just too strong and temperamental for the younger kids.<br>
The Romans were also acquainted with the Welsh pony too and apparently the first to 'improve' it by introducing eastern blood (though what breeds I don't know.) Today it has a slightly Arabian appearance although this is the result of much later influxes of Arabian blood.<br>
Then there is the black Friesian horse, the ancestor of the modern native Dale and Fell breeds. This horse is generally acknowledged to have been originally introduced into Britain by Roman auxiliary cavalrymen. A quite heavy looking horse, today it stands about 15hh and above, though I don't know how high it was in Roman times. Like most types there has been a lot of cross breeding over the centuries.<br>
I guess though it's most likely your centurion would not have been mounted on anything much bigger than 14hh.<br>
Just out of curiosity is he buying a stallion, mare or gelding? I noticed that a lot of writers seem to have a penchant for feisty stallions. Geldings are generally more practical for simple riding purposes. And in the equine world of course- unlike in the human one-females are often more highly prized than males!<br>
Oh and by the way, modern endurance riding competitions can cover 100miles (160km) in one day. That gives some idea how much distance one can cover without a change of horse, and not necessarily over good, well made roads all the way.<br>
Jackie.<br>
<br>
<br>
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I think the ancient Iberian stock was pretty primitive and ugly and would not have had any advantage over the ancient British breeds that were around at the time and were more or less the same size. In fact there is no reason you cannot find a suitable 'candidate' for your centurion from amongst the British ponies.<br>
The Exmoor for example is a very ancient breed-amongst the oldest in the world-and has changed little in the last 2000 years. It is very, very strong, noted for it's galloping ability and able to carry weight well out of proportion for it's size. So it would have no problem carrying a fully equipped cavalry-or infantryman for that matter. The couple of Exmoors kept by a riding school i went to as a kid were ridden almost exclusively by adults as they were just too strong and temperamental for the younger kids.<br>
The Romans were also acquainted with the Welsh pony too and apparently the first to 'improve' it by introducing eastern blood (though what breeds I don't know.) Today it has a slightly Arabian appearance although this is the result of much later influxes of Arabian blood.<br>
Then there is the black Friesian horse, the ancestor of the modern native Dale and Fell breeds. This horse is generally acknowledged to have been originally introduced into Britain by Roman auxiliary cavalrymen. A quite heavy looking horse, today it stands about 15hh and above, though I don't know how high it was in Roman times. Like most types there has been a lot of cross breeding over the centuries.<br>
I guess though it's most likely your centurion would not have been mounted on anything much bigger than 14hh.<br>
Just out of curiosity is he buying a stallion, mare or gelding? I noticed that a lot of writers seem to have a penchant for feisty stallions. Geldings are generally more practical for simple riding purposes. And in the equine world of course- unlike in the human one-females are often more highly prized than males!<br>
Oh and by the way, modern endurance riding competitions can cover 100miles (160km) in one day. That gives some idea how much distance one can cover without a change of horse, and not necessarily over good, well made roads all the way.<br>
Jackie.<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
