08-10-2006, 09:51 AM
Hi everyone,
I am new on this forum and envited by Jasper to comment on the Roman Horses subject. I am currently working on Roman Cavalry training and tactics as a PhD candidate and as a horse enthusiast. You can visit my website about Thoroughbreds: www.volbloeds.nl (it's in Dutch).
I have found that the Principal or Emperial Roman Army has used the larger breeds of horses, preferably with some Berber influences like the Libyan horse. I still got no proof for Arabian horses being around at that time. (is there anybody here who does? I would be delighted)
They recognised nevertheless that some breeds of horses had more intelligence and were more swift on the battlefield as well as on the racecourse. Due to that fact there was a development in horsebreeding in the Roman world towards lighter and speedier horses like the Spanish breeds. These probably had Berber influences.
In the Netherlands archaeologists have found horseskeletons of which the heights measure from 110 - 160 (!) cm. Therefore I think that any horse within these would be ok. The Romans have used a variety of breeds and types. I think that if you want to buy a horse for re-enactment you should look at its temperament and eagerness to work with you instead of the 'right' breed.
A Haflinger with some Arabian blood in it would be a great comrade in battle I believe and they would be 'cheap' to buy. Icelanders can be expensive to purchase and can also be quite a handful to ride. The Spanish horses mentioned on the forum are 'rare' breeds and therefore probably expensive and you would have to ship the horse from Spain.
Arriana
(Annelies Koolen)
I am new on this forum and envited by Jasper to comment on the Roman Horses subject. I am currently working on Roman Cavalry training and tactics as a PhD candidate and as a horse enthusiast. You can visit my website about Thoroughbreds: www.volbloeds.nl (it's in Dutch).
I have found that the Principal or Emperial Roman Army has used the larger breeds of horses, preferably with some Berber influences like the Libyan horse. I still got no proof for Arabian horses being around at that time. (is there anybody here who does? I would be delighted)
They recognised nevertheless that some breeds of horses had more intelligence and were more swift on the battlefield as well as on the racecourse. Due to that fact there was a development in horsebreeding in the Roman world towards lighter and speedier horses like the Spanish breeds. These probably had Berber influences.
In the Netherlands archaeologists have found horseskeletons of which the heights measure from 110 - 160 (!) cm. Therefore I think that any horse within these would be ok. The Romans have used a variety of breeds and types. I think that if you want to buy a horse for re-enactment you should look at its temperament and eagerness to work with you instead of the 'right' breed.
A Haflinger with some Arabian blood in it would be a great comrade in battle I believe and they would be 'cheap' to buy. Icelanders can be expensive to purchase and can also be quite a handful to ride. The Spanish horses mentioned on the forum are 'rare' breeds and therefore probably expensive and you would have to ship the horse from Spain.
Arriana
(Annelies Koolen)
Though some may think and I agree
That only God can make a tree,
Before God thought of trees, it is said,
His mind was on the Thoroughbred.
Paul Mellon
That only God can make a tree,
Before God thought of trees, it is said,
His mind was on the Thoroughbred.
Paul Mellon
