Uses of war horses

For thousands of years, probably since their earliest domestication, horses have been used by humans for war.  The horse has been trained specially for various military purposes, including battles, single combat, reconnaissance, transport and supply. The term hobbyhorse refers to horses that are used to fight, whether in a cavalry charge or an individual battle.

The destrier (war horse) was the most famous battle weapon used by the knights of the Middle Ages. However, even the horses used for purposes other than direct combat had a significant role in the success of military confrontation. In the modern world, there are still uses for horses in the militia.

A fundamental principle throughout the history of warfare has been the caballesca type of use given to horses. On this basis, the kind of horse that was used in combat depended on the needs of the moment. In the battle there was a balance between speed and protection, and added weight meant a restriction of speed.

Despite this, each soldier requires a certain degree of protection against enemies, and though excessive weight could be a deadly drawback in situations of danger, it was considered more important to protect the soldiers during combat, sacrificing speed and agility for protective armour and sheer weight of horse and rider.

The horse used in war varies in size depending on the job; what kind of soldier is being carried and over what distance. A horse can carry about 25% of its own body weight.  The weight carried by the horse affects its endurance. In some cultures, the warriors employed different horses for different occasions – a lighter horse for light tackle, a heavy horse when they wore armor.

Horses used to tow vehicles also varied in size. When vehicles were used for carrying the load, horses with speed, weight and power were needed, in alternating shifts to cover a long distance. A pair of horses could pull a small vehicle carrying a driver and a soldier.  In addition, supply wagons and other vehicles for logistical support required a greater number of horses, usually heavy.

Although any horse can drag a much greater weight than it can carry, this weight varies depending on the anatomy of the beast and the body structure. It should also take into account other factors such as whether the vehicle has wheels, or will simply be dragged, and whether travel is by a road or well conditioned ground or over more difficult terrain.

In practical terms, a modern heavy horse weighing approximately 910 lbs. (1.5 tonne) can pull about nine tons.   However, these estimates may vary because of surface conditions and other factors. A yoke of modern horses can drag a load of 1800 kg in weight-drag competitions.  On a properly paved road a horse can pull between three and eight times its own weight.

The manner in which the horses are linked to the vehicle being dragged will also influence the amount of weight they can pull: a horse attached to a car through a collar can tow more weight than a bull tied to a yoke.