Hard riding no saddles or stirrups

[Cornelius Quintus]

what happens in the real life battles of the romans ?
because i have this idea that the horses charge and then perhaps slow down, and the rider proceeds to fight very slowly and cautiously
does a horse just charge regardless of an enemy horse or man standing in its way???

Ave Francis,

good question! Experts of cavalry tactics may have detailed answers for different cavalry attacking modes? Did the cavalry break into the enemies formation? Or did they almost attack fleeing troops ore troops that lost close formation (perhaps being scared by the charging cavalry?)

From medieval times on, I've read battle horses were well trained just to ignore anything than their rider's commands. So they would run trough lines of men or fire, like horses performing stunts in our days.

On the other hand, a horse in the center of a galloping formation has no other possibility, than running forward :wink:

Were blinkers already known in Roman times?