An article appeared on my screen thanks, no doubt, to my algorithm about recent research into the surviving archaeological evidence for the size, and other attributes, of cavalry horses in England between 300 and 1650.
The article can be seen at Medieval War Horses Were Smaller Than Modern-Day Ponies. The title conveys a slightly(?) misleading image of knights charging into battle on Thelwell type gymkana ponies which is clearly not what the research highlighted is about. This is a case where I would particularly urge anyone interested to follow the link to the original article. Not only does this contain the research information but its interpretation is much more helpful and insightful than the summary provided by the initial account I linked to above.
One question it raises is that of the survival of quantifiable evidence and the identification of the appropriate horses.
A second factor that clearly needs to be taken into account is the development by the later middle ages at least by English men-at-arms of actually fighting on foot rather than an horseback - horses got the man in armour to or. hopefully, from the battlefield rather than taking part in the actual combat. To what extent this came about because of the types of horse available or led to changes in breeding preferences is a rich topic in itself. It certainly appears to have affected the details of the design of knightly armour in the period. A specific concern to breed the right type of horse would be a further insight into past husbandry choices and management.
It has long been known that medieval warhorses were not shire horses - a development of the agricultural revolution - and much more like hunters or, I suppose, a type of steeplechaser. This research carries that discussion much further forward, and it will be interesting to see what new studies result.
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