Mounted Combat

Summary

Mounted combat is the act of fighting while riding a horse. Horse riding during warfare has been practiced by almost every civilization in history. From knights to Bushido warriors, the use of horses is common in all cultures. Riding fighters gained distinct advantages over foot soldiers; they were difficult to hit and had an elevated height. Weapons used in mounted combat are varied: from sticks to knives to swords to guns, horse riding soldiers used any weapon possible while fighting.

History / Origins

ETYMOLOGY

The term “mounted combat” is a compound term that describes fighting on horseback. It comes from the words “mounted,” meaning to rise or ascend, and “combat,” meaning a fight or struggle. Warriors who engaged in combat while mounted to a steed have received different titles, all of which are based on the location and era that they came from.

BEGINNINGS

It is difficult to state the exact beginnings of mounted combat since so many different cultures have used horses in warfare. Some speculate that the earliest examples can be seen in regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It is predicted that the practice of horse riding in combat goes back thousands of years. Some of the earliest users of mounted combat were the Assyrians. Their use of horses during warfare dates back to around 750 B.C. Eastern cultures such as the Sarmatians and Avars were known to use horses during warfare, as were western cultures such as the Greeks and Romans. Several forms of fighting have emphasized the use of horses in combat. For instance, in Ninjutsu, horsemanship or batjutsu is one of the eighteen skills necessary to become a ninja. Because of how common the practice of mounted warfare was, it is difficult to say which country or region it developed in, however, it is estimated to be at least 5,000 years old.

PRESENT DAY

The practice of mounted combat has been severely limited, mostly due to advancements in weaponry and warfare. Most soldiers don’t need to ride a horse into combat when they can fly a jet or ride in a tank. However limited it may be, there are still instances of mounted combat. Horse riding police officers still use mounted combat when they have to control a crowd. In terms of one on one combat, the practice is most commonly seen with jousters reenacting medieval times. Many countries still reserve mounted cavalry for ceremonies and traditions. Equestrian events, such as sports or games, are still practiced using many of the same combat techniques that have been around since ancient civilizations started using horses in warfare.

FOLKLORE

One interesting folk story involves a legendary horseman in Sri Lanka. In the long-lasting war between King Dutugemunu and Elara, there were ten giant warriors who fought for Dutugemunu. According to regional folklore, one of the warriors was named Velusumanna. He was the best mounted soldier in Dutugemunu’s army. In his younger days, he was able to tame and ride a steed known for never allowing a human to mount him. According to the folklore, after the steed was tamed Velusumanna rode him in circles at such a fast rate that it appeared to be an entire posse was riding in the circle with him. At one point, Velesumanna even rode into enemy territory and purposefully had the enemy’s military head chase him. Velusumanna created enough dust to blind his pursuer, at which point he held out his sword and decapitated him.