Sarmatian horses

[Vindex]

I have an old book by Peter Connolly called the Cavalryman (very well illustrated) and on mounting and dismounting of horses where he says that the ancient writers placed great emphasis on training troopers to vault into the saddle. At first they practised on a wooden horse and the men without armour or weapons and he states that he had done it himself but becomes difficult when trying to mount from either side or when wearing armour. It would be difficult on a 4 horned Roman saddle. But he goes on to state that Arrian claims that a properly trained rider can vault into the saddle with full kit and with the horse at the canter.
The other part about Ferghana horses was only a question as I myself am no expert so I suppose I was just putting it out there for people's thoughts.
What you said about getting horses to kneel makes sense though (pre stirrups)

You can swing yourself into the saddle in relatively flexible armour (ie mail) and some of the mounted members of the Forum will endorse this. I have done it in extremis out hunting with horses that just wont stand still when others are moving around (up to 17hh but that's when I was MUCH younger and fitter!) The four horned saddles provide a challenge but they also give you something to hang on to or hook a leg on as necessary.

Of course it is possible to vault onto a horse at pace (canter) but I haven't done that for a considerable amount of time and certainly not whilst wearing mailand carrying a sword/lance and/or shield. It depends what Arrian meant by full kit as I doubt a cataphract could do this!