Hard riding no saddles or stirrups

[Tiberius Martius]

Sure, but charging directly into formed up heavy infantry was not the standard practice of the Medieval period either, or not a very successful one, so I'm led to believe. I can't agree that Stirrups made all the difference, but that remains something of a debating point. 'The Great Stirrup Controversy' touches upon this:

http://scholar.chem.nyu.edu/tekpages/stirrups.html

Stirrups are no doubt an advantage, but how much of an advantage it is difficult to say at this time with any real certainty.

Good reading though..thanks for the stuff on the "Stirrup Controversy."