Cavalry

[JRSCline]

I'm not quite sure what you mean to ask, but if it's Roman horsemanship and equipment that interests you, try Ann Hyland's two terrific (and practical) books, Equus: the Horse in the Roman World, and Training the Roman Cavalry.<br>
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In a nutshell, Roman troopers stayed in the saddle by gripping their horses with their legs -- which as you might imagine became bowed fairly quickly under such riding conditions, and so even better adapted to a close tight grip -- as well as high pommel-like projections at each of the four corners of the saddle, which projected up and inward in such a way to allow the rider to brace his legs firmly against them. It was probably harder to fall off a horse using this sort of saddle than today's saddles, given a moderate level of riding balance.<br>
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Roman tack did not include stirrups -- one of Gladiator's more obvious errors. Stirrups were invented well after Roman times.<br>
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Cheers,<br>
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Jenny <p></p><i></i>