Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Alanus]

Development of the lance in the Medieval sense, of course, depended on the introduction of the hard stirrup. Without it, the rider had to use the lance as a spear or risk unseating himself. (Introduction of the stirrup is discussed here somewhere.)

That's true. In the context of the story of Guengarth, he carries a "sword, shield, and lance." I recall it as "lancea," not "pilum." To me, that indicates a 12-foot lance as now carried by the revived Equites Taifali. In the sub-Roman period it was probably used two-handed, as it was earlier, and not couched in the Medieval style. We should remember that the wooden-framed saddle was a reality of the period under discussion. It is mentioned in the mountain of saddles that Attila created to immoliate himself; and such a saddle was an improvement over the four-pommeled model. Reenactors who are using both styles are coming to realize that the importance of the stirrup, as oft described by 20th century authors, has been overrated. This is an observation of others. I do not own a horse and shoot "horsebows" on foot. Recently, I saw a home-video of a guy shooting a steppe bow from a moving lawn-tractor.

Whatever suits? Wear it.