Medieval, Classical and Modern Horse Riding

The horse was typically a heavy horse or cob type, 15hh or greater in size. Knights would ride using a neck reigning style similar to modern day western riding, and ride with a completely straight leg, as armour greatly restricted their movement. Horses were often chosen for their aesthetics, and a knight on a white andalucian stallion is actually quite an apt stereotype. Horses during this period were classified based on their purpose.

THE DESTRIER- This was a big formidable horse that would be able to carry a knight in full armour. It was used primarily in battle and was not particularly comfortable to ride.
PALFREY- This horse was used everyday, due to it's comfortable gentle ambling gate. A palfrey would typically have short legs and be long bodied meaning it would be a smooth ride. It is actually thought to be an ancestor to the Tennesse walking horse and could move 3mph-20mph in one gait (like pace).
ROUNCY- Again an everyday horse, that was an all rounder and as such was generally preferred by poorer knights.
THE COURSER- In French this means to run, it's conformation would be much leaner and it was capable of faster speeds. Coursers were hot blooded and of Arabic or Turkish origin. They were used for hard and fast battles, and are the ancestor of modern racehorses.
SUMPTER-These horses were used to carry baggage and armour when it was not worn. These horses would be gelded and could be marked out due to their docked tail.

Horses continued to play a vital role in human conflict long after the Medieval period. After the development of firearms the DRAGOON dominated many European countries cavalries, and also was often used to pull canons. Fredrick the Great (The king of Prussia) was a great believer in the use of cavalry during battle and wanted to make even the common man into an efficient rider and in 1756 the Prussian cavalry was feared due to it's light speedy horses that were used to great effect in quick lightening attacks.
Napolean also saw the great strategic importance of the horse and therefore set up a number of studs to provide good quality horses for his cavalry and of course he is well known for riding his white Arabian stallion. However by the second Boer War (South Africa) the horse was no longer as successful over 150,000 were killed during the fighting and they were generally used for transport rather than as part of a cavalry. By World War 1 the infantry had taken over due to the widespread use of barbed wire, horses were still used to pull cannons but their use gradually decreased.

Classical equitation fully developed between 1460-1600 as an elegant style of riding that focused on the partnership and interaction of horse and rider, that was considered to be almost an art form. However the concept began much earlier.

XENOPHON (430-354BC) wrote the first manual on riding 'The Art of Horsemanship' this was the basis for the renaissance of classical riding. He stressed the importance of understanding the horse's behaviour. He considered riding to be art for the first time and he is known for believing that 'Anything forced or misunderstood cannot be beautiful'.
THE RENAISSANCE (or 'Re-birth') 1450-1600, was when the first in depth analysis and study of anatomy began and became a subject of fascination. The scientific study of movement also began and there was a palpable need for discovery particularly in the arts, this all combined to have a big impact on riding and the development of Classical Equitation.
FREDERICO GRISONE (1522-1550) studied Xenophon's work closely and from this developed 'Orders of Riding' and opened his own academy in Italy in 1532. He used brutal methods and believed in breaking the spirit of the horse.
GIOVANNI BAPTISTA PIGNATELLI was one of Grisone's pupils. He refined his techniques and became a famous instructor. His methods focused on obedience and balance not achieved by barbarous means as he abandoned the use of severe aids.
ANTOINE DE PLUVINEL (1555) was taught by Pignatelli and went on to open an academy in Paris even teaching King Lois XIII. He was the first instructor to use dressage points and used horses to create a ballet like effect, up to 1000 carousel horses performed advanced techniques to music.
BAROQUE (1580-1750) This style of riding involved extravagant displays of splendour and needed intense strength and power, this led to the Lippizzanner stud being founded in 1580. The horses were trained in three stages, the first was to develop a free natural gait and move forward in straight lines. By the second stage the horse would work in an outline, could use collected gaits and could make balanced turns and circles. At the third stage they would begin performing advanced movements.

The Renaissance was just the beginning of classical riding, and developments continued to take place to create the modern riding style we know today.
WILLIAM CAVENDISH (The Duke of Newcastle) was obsessed with collected gaits, and he established moving backwards on horse back. He was also one of the first riders to use whips in both hands and use his voice as an effective aid.
LA GUERINIERE (1685-1751) was a riding master who developed counter canter and lead changes at canter. He went on to produce a guide book for the everyday riders.
The French Revolution (1789) Some of the principles that had been developed previously were lost or turned in to circus tricks where riders caused over bending and created the backward canter. However at this time tack developed to incorporate light reins that improved self carriage and the curbed bit. The great riding schools were also developed, where riders began aged 12 and studied for 8 years to master the Quadrille, which were specific choreographed movements and Pas de Deux working in mirror image pairs. Haute Ecole (High School) airs above ground were created including Levade, Capriole, Courbette. During campaign riding modern dressage movements were developed including Passage, Piaffe, which was used as exercise on the front line and ships as it could be done on the spot and Pirouette for a quick attack.
FREDRICO CAPRILLI (1868-1907) was a member of the Italian army and an innovator of jumping using the current position rather than previously riders has used an upright position.