Gone Medieval – How Horses Ran the Medieval World
Podcast: Gone Medieval (History Hit)
Host: Matt Lewis
Guest: Dr. Anastasia Roper, Lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education, equestrian, author of The Medieval Horse
Published: February 6, 2026
Overview
This episode of Gone Medieval explores the essential role of horses, mules, and donkeys in shaping every aspect of medieval life. Host Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. Anastasia Roper to discuss the different types of equines, their social and economic impact, misconceptions about medieval horses, and what these animals can tell us about status, warfare, literature, and daily life during the Middle Ages.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Horses as the Backbone of Medieval Society
- Equines were as common and vital to medieval society as cars are today.
- Horses, mules, and donkeys served not just the elite (knights, nobility) but also played indispensable roles in agriculture, trade, travel, and warfare.
- Mules were often more valuable than horses for certain tasks due to their strength, endurance, and efficiency, especially in rough terrain ([03:30]).
Notable Quote:
"Horses, mules and donkeys... they were basically everywhere, just like we have cars today."
— Dr. Anastasia Roper [04:46]
Types of Medieval Horses and Their Uses
- Destrier/War Horse: Iconic but rare; highly trained, expensive, and symbolized knightly status.
- Courser: Slightly less prestigious, faster, lighter, still costly.
- Palfrey: Comfortable for long-distance travel, known for "ambling" gait, preferred by some nobility and women.
- Cart and Plough Horses: Most horses were working animals, smaller by modern standards, vital to agriculture and transport.
- Mules and Donkeys: Used variably by knights, clergy, servants, and the poor.
Notable Quote:
"War horses, elite horses... at best 5% of all horse, mule and donkey population in any given country."
— Dr. Anastasia Roper [05:38]
Social Status and Horses
- The type of horse or mule a person rode was a clear indicator of social class, similar to modern car brands ([08:06]).
- Poor quality or mismatched horses could be sources of ridicule or social commentary, as seen in literature like The Three Musketeers and medieval romances.
Notable Quote:
"We can recognize different brands of cars. People could recognize different types of horses."
— Dr. Anastasia Roper [08:22]
The Myth of the Giant War Horse
- Contrary to popular belief and artistic depictions, medieval war horses (destriers) were not massive by today’s standards.
- Analysis of horse bones, equipment, and art reveals most were between 13-16 hands, more like modern ponies or small horses ([09:45]).
Notable Quote:
"By today's standard, they are very moderately sized horses. They don't even make the standard for the police horse, most of them."
— Dr. Anastasia Roper [11:41]
Horses in Romance and Literature
- Horses were often extensions of their riders' personalities and status in romance literature.
- Named or "heroic" horses (e.g., Bayard, Bucephalus) often symbolized the success, virtue, or failings of their owners.
- Equine choices in stories can function as metaphors for moral or social standing ([12:05], [32:36]).
Notable Moments:
- Percival, in The Romance of Alexander the Great, riding a wild mare due to his inexperience, provides comic relief and social commentary ([13:20]).
Human-Horse Relationships
- The strength of the bond between individual horses and riders varied greatly—some horses were mere transport, others lifelong companions ([14:03], [16:18]).
- Accounts such as Sir Gawain mourning his horse Grisel demonstrate the emotional connection possible between knight and steed ([15:20]).
Working Horses and Gender
- Most horses were working animals, sometimes shifting roles from warhorses to utility or retirement ([16:33]).
- Mares were primarily used for breeding and work but were infrequently mentioned as personal riding animals in records, except in regions or situations where practical ([16:33]).
Regional Attitudes and Wild Horses
- Notable differences existed in the treatment of horses between eastern (nomadic) and western cultures, with nomads often having a closer, daily relationship with their horses ([19:01]).
- "Wild" or "forest" horses were usually managed feral herds, essential for providing new stock ([21:03]).
Horses as Political Tools
- Diplomatic horse gifting was significant in both Europe and Asia.
- Famous examples include Scottish Galloway nags being sent as prized diplomatic gifts to Italy ([35:08]).
- Accessories such as extravagant saddles and bridles could signify additional status, sometimes valued as much as or more than the horse itself ([38:44]).
Horses and Social Display
- Processions and ceremonial riding, with ornate tack and well-trained mounts, allowed elites to broadcast wealth and skill ([42:08]).
- By the end of the Middle Ages, showmanship in horsemanship became a route for social advancement, as noted in King Duarte of Portugal’s treatise ([42:08], [43:55]).
Notable Quote:
"It's one way how you can advance socially... what you do to stay elegant, how to adjust your clothing if your horse is barking or misbehaving, how you stay there in the saddle and pretend that you... just wanted it to bark."
— Dr. Anastasia Roper [44:00]
Horses in War, Food, and Law
- Eating horse meat was officially prohibited in Christian Europe, though starvation, siege, or non-Christian contexts offered exceptions ([27:03]).
- In literature and chronicles, eating horse meat is associated with necessity or outsider status, not normal behavior.
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales: Horses as Social Commentary
- Character mounts reinforce social divisions and personal traits (e.g., the Ploughman rides a mare; the Wife of Bath astride a luxurious ambling horse; the Knight on a battle-tested steed) ([29:30]).
- Riding styles and choice of mount serve as metaphors for status, sexuality, and morality.
Enduring Legacy and Modern Equestrianism
- Many medieval principles of horsemanship (gentleness, patience, building trust) remain core tenets of modern horse training ([44:37]).
- Medieval sports like jousting and horseback archery have experienced revival, reflecting fascination with medieval equestrian culture.
- Dr. Roper’s personal experiences with difficult horses mirror the narratives of legendary equines like Bucephalus ([47:53]).
Notable Quote:
"Good horsemanship is timeless."
— Dr. Anastasia Roper [46:18]
Memorable Quotes and Moments
- “Horses, mules and donkeys... they were basically everywhere, just like we have cars today.” — Dr. Roper [04:46]
- “In the Middle Ages, if you look at images, people can quite easily look over the back of the horse.” — Dr. Roper [10:20]
- “You can have the whole Arden Forest now full of the foals of Bayard. Who knows?” — Dr. Roper, referencing romance legend [23:41]
- “The only mare which appears [in the Canterbury Tales] is the ploughman’s mare.” — Dr. Roper [29:34]
- “I have looked at medieval training venues... and basically most of the advice is applicable today. Treat it ethically, treat it gently, don’t scare it... you want trust. And that’s timeless advice.” — Dr. Roper [44:37]
Important Segment Timestamps
- [04:46] — Horses as omnipresent as cars; misunderstanding of universal horse expertise.
- [05:38] — Types of horses and social stratification.
- [09:45] — Debunking the myth of giant medieval warhorses.
- [12:05] — Horses in medieval romance literature.
- [16:33] — The reality and hardship of most working horses.
- [19:01] — East vs. West: Differences in horse-keeping culture.
- [21:03] — “Wild” horses: managed feral herds.
- [27:03] — Religious and cultural aversion to eating horse meat.
- [29:30] — Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales as a showcase of society through horses.
- [35:08] — Diplomatic gifting of horses.
- [38:44] — Saddles and tack as status symbols and gifts.
- [42:08] — Horses and social performance.
- [44:37] — Modern horsemanship's medieval roots.
- [47:53] — Personal stories of horse training and the timeless human-equine bond.
Conclusion
This episode provides a sweeping, insightful look into how horses—long overlooked in favor of more dramatic histories of kings, battles, and revolts—were the linchpin of medieval society. From their role as status symbols to their indispensable labor, diplomatic value, and enduring legacy as partners to humans, How Horses Ran the Medieval World shows that to understand the Middle Ages, we must understand its horses.