heavy cavalry engaging heavy cavalry

[Urselius]

There are a limited number of things that can happen when a formed body of cavalry charges another head on:

1) One side looses heart before contact and they turn back or to the flanks and flee.

2) Both sides are equally comitted and both slow down before contact, then approach each other at a walk or trot and a large melee ensues.

3) Both sides open their ranks somewhat during the charge - the horses can see gaps in the opposing ranks before contact and the two bodies of cavalry "thread" each other at speed.