Plate-mail hybrid armor

[Peroni]

If the neckerchief was used by those foot soldiers who wear the segmented lorica to prevent chaffing at the neck then it seems right that the mounted soldier would need something more especially considering the increased weight from mail on the shoulders.

Not at all Martin. I have ridden in both mail and scale armour, and there is no increased weight at all. If anything, wearing scale whilst sitting on a horse is more comfortable than standing in it! You still need to wear a focale (neck scarf) with both mail and scale, not just segmeted plate armour.

The armour components being discussed here were more than likely to prevent slashing sword attacks from breaking the soldier's collar bones, which is quite likely what would happen if such a blow struck mail or scale.