Origin of the Alans

[Alanus]

The Berel Horses: Conformation, Height, & Relationship to Modern Breeds. Part 2

Thank you, Robert and Rodger.
I have resized the photos, and hopefully they will fit in this post. The photos were taken by my friend Andy Illes, and she specializes in equestrian photography. I apologize for the costume and horse tack, which can only be described as "generic Eurasian." Various parts of the recreation range from brand new, to 30 or 40 years old, to 700 years old. What is important is a "warrior" of average Pazyryk/Berel height (5 feet, 9 1/2 inches) and a sufficiently confirmed horse at Pazyryk/Berel size (rugged, and 14.2 hands high at the withers). It is a matter of comfort, my advanced age, and what works when in the saddle. Right-click on the photos, then click again to enlarge.

   
Both horse and rider at normal stance. The eye height is equal. The bow (an asymmetrical "Hun") stands at 4 feet, 6 inches.

   
Face-on, showing the horse's breadth. Leg length of the horse is slightly longer than the rider's.

   
Front quarter view, mounted. The stirrups are either Kievan-Rus or Cuman (Polovtsi), late medieval. The first soft stirrups arrive attached to Pazyryk saddles, c. 400BC. The "hook stirrup," a solid metal version, arrives on c. AD50 Kushan coins.

   
3/4 rear view, "Parthian shot." (I'm trying to shoot a hare for supper.) The horse blanket is tribal Afghanistan, age indeterminate. Without stirrups, my toes would hang just below Misty's belly. 

   
Misty sniffs my bow. The bridle is similar to those found in Pazyryk and Berel kurgans, fitted with forehead and chin leathers; and the snaffle bit is plain, hardly unchanged for 2,500 years. (Modern end-rings toggle, while the oldest bronze ones were ridged.)