Medieval Horse Equipment Class Notes

In 2013, I made a second collection of horse miniatures outfitted in medieval equipment which I entered in the Ice Dragon A&S competition the Pentathlon). Like the first set, I wanted to use these as teaching aids for classes on equestrian equipment, and to educate people about the type of equipment which was used on horses in the Middle Ages.  At the Pennsic War, of the same year, I taught a class specifically on medieval horse equipment and utilized these miniatures for the class.  The following are my notes for this class:

Separate classes could be taught on how to construct medieval horse equipment and I have taught several of that nature. This class is an over-view of medieval horse equipment and sources available to use in researching this subject. The focus is on what equipment SCA equestrians might want to make for their horse to wear or use while participating in equestrian activities within the Society.

As in modern times, there are a various types of equipment that was used on horses during the medieval period. These include: 

1.  Caparisons (or Barding) and Armor
2.  Bridles and saddles
3.  Harness, carts and wagons
4.  Grooming equipment and shoes and accessories like spurs

This class will also discuss the crests worn by mounted warriors (which are also reproduced in the equestrian program for Crest combat as well as accouterments) and the use of heraldry on equestrian related equipment.

Caparisons or Barding

The term barding is commonly used in the SCA to indicate the decorative cloths or straps won by horses.  This term covers the strap type barding as well as the flowing cloth caparisons or trappers.  In this class, that term is being used in a generic manner to cover all these types of equipment.

The first equipment usually made by the SCAdian equestrian is barding or some type of material to cover modern saddles and bridles and add decoration to the horse's tack. This type of equipment also adds to the pageantry of events and enhances the medieval feel of our activities. Barding types consist of full barding, blanket barding and strap barding or some deviation of these three.

 

Two miniatures showing full barding style or caparisons.

Source picture from Froissant's manuscript.

Caparisons were very decorative and often included elements of the rider's heraldry.  The model above on the left is a representation from a period example from the Codex Manesse, while the one on the right is from a 15th century manuscript by Froissant.

These three miniatures depict a horse wearing strap barding. The top two come from the source, Medieval Costume, Armor and Weapons by Wagner, Drobna, and Durdik. The center bottom example comes from Gaston Phoebus' Hunting Book.

 

Source from Gaston's Hunting Book

The miniature on the left represents the blanket barding style where only the hind end of the horse is covered.  This particular type shows a miniature version of the Æthelmearc Kingdom Equestrian Championship barding that is worn by the King's Equestrian Champion's horse.



Armor

As SCA equestrians become involved in more advanced activities such as mounted combat and jousting, they begin to look at sources for building armor for themselves and their horses. There are various sources for horse armor, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York's, as well as the collections at Leeds and the Higgins Museums.  (The latter was being closed at the time of this class.)  My miniature depicts a horse wearing a chanfron, which protects the horses head and face, and a crinet, which protects the horse's neck.  These were made of leather,  scale and chain mail, and plate.  The miniature is representing a version made from leather. Note that these models were not meant to show detail, or construction methods, but to provide a visual aid to the students attending the class.

Saddles and Bridles

With time, equestrians often look to enhancing their appearance by making medieval style bridles and saddles. You can make your own equipment using period sources. There are some bridles and saddles that have survived that we can use as examples. Many of these would not represent the typical saddle ridden by a typical SCAdian persona, as the ones that were preserved were the property of royalty and people from the upper nobility. But they do provide us with information on saddle style and construction. When making a medieval saddle, students are cautioned against building your own tree.  This is a job for experts in order to ensure a correct fit and prevent injury to your horse's back. In building a saddle from the start, purchase a good quality saddle tree to start with or re-purpose an old quality saddle. If you don't want to or lack the skills to make a saddle, you can purchase a Spanish or Portugese saddle, as these are similar to saddles used in period (though not exact). Some saddle-makers are offering to make replica medieval equipment as well, but you should examine these well to determine if they are historical or based on fantasy or Renaissance Faire designs. 

When designing and building equipment, we can turn to manuscripts for guidance as well.  Information about buckles and harness hardware can be found in Clark's The Medieval Horse and its Equipment, c. 1150 c.1450.

Harness and Carts, Wagons

For those who drive, manuscripts are the best source information on for carts, wagons and harness. I especially like Wagner, Drobna, and Durdik's Medieval Costume, Armor and Weapons. as it has many excellent examples. The miniature to the right was based on a harness from this source.

Source picture from Wagner.

 

Accessories-Spurs, Shoes, curry combs, etc

Clark's The Medieval Horse and its Equipment, c. 1150 c.1450. also covers information on grooming equipment, shoes, spurs, as well as pendants and decorations to harness and bridles.  This gives the medievalist plenty of information to base their own equipment design and construction.

Crests

In period, crests were decorative objects worn on the rider's helmet and are based on their heraldry.  Usually the crest is an element, or charge, of their arms such as a goose, lion, etc.  For the SCAdian,  there are a variety of sources for researching crests including illuminated manuscripts, which contain depictions, and heraldry rolls and books. Crests can be historically accurate for decoration or modified to adhere to rules for crest fighting which usually require non-frangible materials. Period pieces included a type of paper mache, covered in gesso and painted, or leather over a metal framework.  These would not be suitable for Crest Combat but you can use Styrofoam with a cloth or leather covering which is painted.

Crest display as part of the Tournament from Rene's Tournament Book

Heraldry

Heraldry was used to identify the rider in battle and on the Tournament field. It serves a similar function in the SCA as well as adding to the pageantry of the event. Heraldry can be displayed on surcoats, mantles for helmets, barding and banners. Numerous sources, including illuminated manuscripts, can be used to assist the researcher in creating these items accurately.

Conclusion

Because leather does not survive into the archaeological record, there are not many extant examples.  The best sources are manuscripts and artwork depicting horse equipment. There are some extant examples to be found in museums though the researcher is cautioned to understand that these are examples from the very wealthy and are not representative of the average man’s equipment. Often what survives to make it into a museum is the equipment of kings and high nobility. But these examples provide clues to construction materials and methods as well as design.

The Hand out includes various sources to get you started. I also recommend you go to the various Kingdom equestrian pages and their social media websites, looking at their files sections, for articles and discussions related to medieval horse equipment.