When we think of medieval battles, it’s easy to picture knights in shining armour, swords flashing, and banners billowing. But behind every charge and skirmish, there was another hero…often overlooked…the horse!

These animals were more than just mounts…they were the engines of war, the bearers of knights, supplies, and sometimes even the wounded.

Most weren’t the enormous destriers you see in films. In reality, many were sturdy, compact, and tireless, bred for endurance rather than size.

A knight’s destrier was rare, expensive, and highly trained, but the unsung majority…pack horses, carts, and smaller mounts…kept armies moving.

They carried armour, weapons, food, and sometimes even whole siege engines, braving mud, narrow roads, and enemy fire.

Training a warhorse was an art in itself.

They had to remain calm under chaos, charge on command, and endure the weight of a fully armoured knight.

Losing a horse could be as catastrophic as losing a soldier, making these animals invaluable allies on the battlefield. Without them, campaigns would have bogged down, sieges stalled, and knights left stranded on foot.

In short, battles weren’t just won by swords and strategy…they were powered by hooves, muscle, and endurance.

The medieval horse deserves more than a footnote…it deserves a story.