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Originally Posted by Icelander
And what kind of rolls do Mongols with twelve remounts need to make during their daily travel?
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I suspect they are herding them, not leading them. It's easier to use their herd instincts than to lead a bunch of horses. Horses will naturally move together, work together. Certainly the US cavalry moved small herds, rather than lead a large number per rider.
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How many horses should they assign each of the 100 horse archers selected to serve as outriders and cavalry screen?
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They will simply rotate in, pick a new horse, saddle him, and go back to station. If you watch this video you'll see a very bad go of capturing a horse -- but the rider is not that important. Watch the _horse_ he is riding. It's doing all the work, eager to follow the one it's chasing, without much prompting from the rider. That's the instinct to follow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo0c4iFqVik
Or watch the instinct to herd of this champion cutting horse. The rider does little except hang on -- the horse "cuts" the calf from the herd, and keeps him cut out until the rider lets him know it's okay to let the calf return.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCRzUjn4I7I
The horsemen uses the horse's instincts to his advantage, picking the horse he wants to ride from the herd, cutting it out, roping it, and saddling it. Not a big problem, generally.
On a different note, the ability to manage your horse with only the slightest control inputs -- to extend and collect the gate, to spin rapidly, stay balanced and quick to react, etc. -- can be seen here (forgive the audio on both):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw and the beginning display here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaozG0-SUwc
Notice the hands are free to manage a shield, lance, sword, etc. It's not presented that way, but this is the vestiges of war training, and it's quite within the realm of what horses do naturally. It marshals their protective instincts -- to tuck in the head, hold the body flexed, and to whirl away from danger. Horsemen once used the instincts of the horse, particularly his sheer joy in running, and his natural athleticism, on the battlefield. It seems very unnatural, but it's really only a harnessing of the animal.
Here's a great view of the horse as a partner. Watch this horse's ears. Forward ears show attentiveness, alertness. Backed ears show pain, anger, or frustration. Here they show a keen interest -- this horse is having a blast negotiating the obstacles. It even neighs at the end, as if to say "That was fun!" Instinct!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PXL9N9WU8E
The quality horse has its mind in the game. It plays well with others, wants to be ridden, it enjoys its "job." It's not just excellent physicality that good breeding produces, but a good temperament, a spirit well suited to the task. Horses will kill themselves if they enjoy doing what they love. Watch this barrel horse at 1:30. It's quivering with excitement. Let's go! Let's go!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Ki2sUpIrA