Folia archeologica 52.

Vörös István: Ló az Árpád-kori Magyarországon

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Л) AZ ÁRPÁD-KORI MAGYARORSZÁGON 215 'WESTERN ANI) EASTERN HORSES' In Mediaeval Europe, horses of different descent and kind - small, low and 'large' (in fact, medium withers height) ones were also different in use including military application. The western type autochtonous horse stock was different, in spite of identical withers height, from the so-called eastern horses. Their authentic representation can be seen, e.g., on the Bayeax carpet (11

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h century, witli 186 horses!). Its characteristic features are the high springing and small pony head, short and muscular, thick neck - later on, this quality will be typical of traction horses and known as swine-neck; the short, low trunk, long muscular large bottom and short, thin legs. Typical withers height was between 128,0 and 140,0 cm, that is, low and medium height stature. The habit of the western horses determined their possible military use. Heavier horses of 'draught' type were slower and their application as riding/pack horses implied the formation of'heavy cavalry' together with its characteristic armament and tactics. The western type knightly 'heavy cavalry' adopted man-to man combating and close encounter. It is well expressed in the battle-cry of the Germans: when starting the attack in a closed unit, they shouted: 'horse by horse, pike by pike' (

PAULI

к 1899, II. 390.). The 'eastern' horse slock used to be of fairly heterogeneous composition from the beginning of the Migration period. Beside the so-called Eastern European 'boreal' autochthonous ponies, the Mediterranean type horses also appeared (

VÖRÖS 2000b, 366—367.). Among the latter, there were also sensu lato 'Arab type' horses, as well as eastern-European ponies improved by Arab horses. The 'Arab type' horses of the period were of diverse lineage, descent and habit. As a general characterisation of the eastern type horses we can say that they had low springing wedge form large head, long, thin neck, short, low trunk and long slender legs. The withers height of the smaller horses was between 136,0 and 144,0 cm, being also low and large medium height. Characteristic of the training of the eastern type horses that they were lead with loose rein both in gallop and attack (equorum dimissi, laxatis) (Rogerius SRH II. 569. 6., 571. 9., TE. 128., 130.) Consequently, the horses were not directed by bridle and curb but legs and knees. The Arabs themselves separated their horses into two big groups, 'races' from Mediaeval times: one comprising horses of unknown lineage and race (ka-dish

), they were used for carrying load and common work. The other group comprised horses of known and registered lineage (ku-hai-lan

), used only for riding and having a very high price. Mistification of the horses used by the Tartars and the Rumanians is still a common practice, though without proper foundation. Contemporary observers and chronicle-writers - unlike modern authors - wrote about the Mediaeval horses authentically and without bias. They are also corroborated with contemporary historical sources. Thomas of Spalato (1200-1268) made the following comments on the horses of the Tartars:' [...] their horses are small but strong, tolerate fasting and labour. They ride them in peasant fashion (without saddle) and they have no horseshoes; [...] after three days of continuous use, they are contented with a few straw-like fodder' (Spalato 37., in.: ТЕ. 184., 15. footnote 193.). The fact that these pony horses of the Tartars had no unlimited resources either was supported by coeval data. Ehe Tartars invading Hungary used to have a lot of stallions 'equos plurimos', most of them led horses 'equos vacuos' (Rogerius, SRH. II. 568. 28., 30., in.: ТЕ. 128.). In the autumn of 1241 'the Tartars did not hum the litter straw as well as certain houses [...], to get shelter (equis domos) and food for the horses' ! (Rogerius, SRH. II. 582. 8. in.: ТЕ.