08-18-2001, 08:12 PM
Any comments on Goldsworthy's hypothesis that horned saddles already existed during the punic wars? I thought it was a later development and Goldworthy's comment that it could have been used that early took me by surprise. But then many things do as I am ignorant.<br>
But my comment still remains: If those saddles existed and they truely gave a good support to the trooper then why dismount to fight? I agree that horses where difficult to train but this has always been true. I don't think horse training methods changed much over the centuries (wouldn't be surprised to find out that those used today are same as those used 5000 years ago!). So I make the following question: Are there any descriptions from the later battles of the empire, when the horned saddles were certainly used, of cavalry troopers dismounting to fight the opposing cavalry force as Goldsworthy describes happening during the second punic war? <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/ugoffredo.showPublicProfile?language=EN>goffredo</A> at: 8/18/01 10:42:43 pm<br></i>
But my comment still remains: If those saddles existed and they truely gave a good support to the trooper then why dismount to fight? I agree that horses where difficult to train but this has always been true. I don't think horse training methods changed much over the centuries (wouldn't be surprised to find out that those used today are same as those used 5000 years ago!). So I make the following question: Are there any descriptions from the later battles of the empire, when the horned saddles were certainly used, of cavalry troopers dismounting to fight the opposing cavalry force as Goldsworthy describes happening during the second punic war? <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/ugoffredo.showPublicProfile?language=EN>goffredo</A> at: 8/18/01 10:42:43 pm<br></i>
Jeffery Wyss
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
"Si vos es non secui of solutio tunc vos es secui of preciptate."
