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The Medieval Horse
The medieval rider appears to have had little or no interest in the finer points of horsemanship, a horse was there to be ridden, so ride it he did. He rode with no consideration for his mount. He would ride it for all it was worth urging along with whip and spur until he reached his destination or a change of mount became available. Should the animal survive the journey, he would be ridden again, if not, a new one would quickly be found.

The writers of this era give scanty information about the breeds of horse in use at this time. Sir John Froissart a chronicler in the 14th century left accurate details of the many wars, disputes and tourneys between 1320 and 1399, but only once does he make any mention of the breed of horses used.

He wrote "the Scots are bold and hardy and much inured to war. When they make their invasions into England, they march from twenty to four and twenty leagues without halting, as well by day as by night, for they are all on horseback - the Knights and the Squires are mounted on large bay horses, the common people on little Galloways"*. Further on he writes that the less wealthy of the Scots soldiers were "mounted upon little Hackneys that were never tied up ... but turned, immediately after the day's march, to pasture on heath or in the fields".

Froissart saw the importance of the mobile strategy used by the Scots. But it should be noted that he uses the names "Galloways" and "Hackneys" without distinction, as if they were synonymous. Better evidence of the lack of interest in their horses and the care of them is shown a century later, in the "Boke of St Albans" published in 1479 by Wynkyn de Worde. This famous book of medieval learning deals in full with the art of hawking, boar hunting and even fishing. It gives details of heraldry, coats of arms and other matters of court. It also claims to give information of horses, the printer states in the preface "This present boke showeth the manere of hawkynge and huntynge ... it showeth also a good natere belongynge to horses: wyht other commendable treatyse".

The information regarding horses has only nine lines in total, when transliterated read as follows a good horse should have fifteen properties and conditions. That is to wit three of man, three of woman, three of fox three of hare and three of ass.

Of man: bold, proud and hardy.
Of woman: good chested, good hair and easy to leap upon.
Of fox: a good tail, short ears, with a good action.
Of hare: a large eye, a head

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