Dani A.
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2003
- Messages
- 273
Hello,
I found an interesting table, dated an XI, that is, 1802-3, dealing with the adequate sizes for horses, as appropriate to every cavalry branch in the French army, at the time of the Napoleonic wars. Of course, this could not be always enforced, or even advisable, and regulations were relaxed by necessity - for instance, I have read Russian horses were most appreciated; although ungainly, and usually on the small side, these beasts had a good endurance and could find food where other breeds starved - for instance, they were able to dig the snow in order to get to the underlying grass.
Carabiniers and Cuirassiers - 1,556 m to 1,597 m
Line Cavalry - 1,543 m to 1,583 m
Dragoons - 1,529 m to 1,570 m
Chasseurs, Hussars, Light Artillery - 1,489 m to 1,529 m
This table can be taken as orientative, and may be useful when pairing horses and riders - all too often, one sees cavalry figures with oddly sized mounts... although I insist that the dictates of reality often do not match regulations in wartime, and specially in bad times...
Regards,
Dani
I found an interesting table, dated an XI, that is, 1802-3, dealing with the adequate sizes for horses, as appropriate to every cavalry branch in the French army, at the time of the Napoleonic wars. Of course, this could not be always enforced, or even advisable, and regulations were relaxed by necessity - for instance, I have read Russian horses were most appreciated; although ungainly, and usually on the small side, these beasts had a good endurance and could find food where other breeds starved - for instance, they were able to dig the snow in order to get to the underlying grass.
Carabiniers and Cuirassiers - 1,556 m to 1,597 m
Line Cavalry - 1,543 m to 1,583 m
Dragoons - 1,529 m to 1,570 m
Chasseurs, Hussars, Light Artillery - 1,489 m to 1,529 m
This table can be taken as orientative, and may be useful when pairing horses and riders - all too often, one sees cavalry figures with oddly sized mounts... although I insist that the dictates of reality often do not match regulations in wartime, and specially in bad times...
Regards,
Dani
