Podcast Summary

Podcast: New Books Network
Episode: Anastasija Ropa, "The Medieval Horse" (Reaktion Books, 2025)
Date: November 5, 2025
Host: Yana Byers
Guest: Dr. Anastasija Ropa

Episode Overview

This episode of "New Books in Medieval History" features Dr. Anastasija Ropa, author of The Medieval Horse (Reaktion Books, 2025). The conversation delves into the diverse roles horses played in medieval society, demystifying common assumptions about breeds, exploring the material and symbolic cultures surrounding horses, and illuminating the deep, sometimes personal, relationships between humans and equines in the Middle Ages. The discussion is enriched by Dr. Ropa’s hands-on experience with horses, as well as her interdisciplinary research combining literature, archaeology, and practical equestrian knowledge.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Personal Connections and Origins of the Book

• The Dedication to Fizz (02:39–04:20)

  • Dr. Ropa describes her relationship with Fizz, a rescued ex-racehorse who became central to her equestrian and academic journey.
    • Quote: “She was wonderful... she was the horse who started it all.” (04:09, Dr. Ropa)
  • Fizz’s unpredictability, resilience, and pivotal role in Dr. Ropa’s experimentation with medieval riding and historical research.

• Genesis of Academic Interest (04:47–07:25)

  • Initial focus on horse racing’s history.
  • Transition from a PhD in Arthurian literature to practical and theoretical study of medieval horse management.
  • The impact of collaborating with scholars in archaeology and art history.

Medieval Horse Categories: Beyond Modern Breeds

• Breeds as Modern Notions (07:25–10:05)
  • Medieval people did not think in terms of modern "breeds"; horses were categorized by use or origin.
    • Quote: “Just as today there is no breed of race horses, there is no breed of show jumpers... In the Middle Ages people could say, oh, this is a destrier, a war horse, this is a courser, so a swift horse, this is a working horse or a pack horse.” (07:51, Dr. Ropa)
  • Place of origin influenced perceptions of quality, but these were regional attributions, not strict genetic lineages.
  • Breeding believed to be tied to land and climate, not just bloodlines.

The Many Roles of Horses in Medieval Life

• Work and Warfare (10:42–14:14)
  • Knights traveled on palfreys or mules; destriers reserved for battle.
  • Horses were used widely for agriculture, carting, and travel—though not universally accessible due to their expense.
  • Warfare involved specialized horses: not all warhorses were elite destriers.
    • Quote: “If you were a medieval knight, you would probably have more than one horse because... you wouldn't ride that destrier until you reach the battlefield.” (14:14, Dr. Ropa)

Tack, Equipment, and Care

• Uncertainties about Medieval Tack (15:03–17:51)
  • The survival of actual saddles and bridles is rare; much is reconstructed or inferred from art and literature.
    • Quote: “Not many saddles have survived until the very late period... Most of the time they don't survive.” (15:27, Dr. Ropa)
  • Long spurs were practical, not for cruelty.
  • Horses were valuable; good care was economically and practically essential.
    • Affirmation: “Once you destroy the horse, you're not going to get one just by walking into a supermarket.” (16:38, Dr. Ropa)
  • Longevity: Medieval texts envisioned working horses' careers up to 20 years or more if properly cared for (18:15).

Spiritual and Superstitious Traditions

• Sacrifice and Status (19:01–21:10)

  • Pre-Christian practices included horse sacrifices in burials, extending to high-status women.
  • Archaeological evidence complicates gender stereotypes about who could be buried with horses.

• Superstitions and Folk Beliefs (21:19–24:05)

  • Latvian “witches riding horses” superstition during the summer solstice, likely rooted in practical concerns (mosquitoes).
    • Memorable moment: “During the night, the horses are walking all the time... no witches are riding them.” (22:14, Dr. Ropa)
  • The horseshoe as a protective symbol, with varying lore on positioning and reasoning (22:37–23:44).

Mythical and Magical Horses

• Unicorns and Composite Equines (24:05–27:44)

  • Medieval unicorns were composite creatures, not always benign—sometimes symbols of danger or death in art.
    • Quote: “They could be quite ferocious... the unicorn is going to ram into the tree with its horn and try to toss you off and eat you.” (25:20, Dr. Ropa)
  • Other creatures: centaurs, Pegasus, seahorses—all showing the rich mix of belief, story, and symbolism.

• Belief versus Metaphor (27:44–28:32)

  • The line between belief and metaphor was blurred, with many likely treating stories as symbolic but some rooted in experiences of rare or misunderstood animals (e.g., narwhal horns as unicorn horns).

Human–Horse Relationships

• Affection and Utility (28:32–32:28)
  • Relationships ranged from deep personal bonds (as in romances and poetry) to pragmatic partnerships.
    • Example: Sir Gawain’s grief over his horse Grizel (29:27–30:08).
    • Arabic poetry depicting the warhorse as a battle companion of near-equal status (30:08–31:28).
    • Quote: “For many people, there would be like, one horse who really goes to your heart and then others you could care about... for some, you just have a business relationship.” (31:49, Dr. Ropa)

Archaeological Evidence

• Burials and Remains (32:28–36:12)
  • Examples range from the Chinese Terracotta Army (elite stallions in prime condition) to Lombard and Scandinavian burials (status, affection, or utility as reasons for horse inclusion).
  • Medieval stories (e.g., Alexander and Bucephalus) reflected and influenced perceptions of loyalty and mutual grief.

Everyday Presence and Social Knowledge

• Normativity of Horses (36:12–38:13)
  • Horses were ubiquitous, but not everyone was an expert.
  • Dr. Ropa uses the analogy of cars: essential but not always deeply understood by ordinary people.
    • Example: Joan of Arc learning to ride over time, paralleling skill development with access and necessity.

Research Methods and Future Projects

• Interdisciplinary Sources (32:28–38:16)
  • Utilization of poetry, literary sources, art history, and archaeological findings.
• Upcoming Work (38:16–39:51)
  • Book on medieval wild horses—distinct from the Przewalski horse; focused on management and breeding practices.
  • Project on reconstructing medieval training methods, some of which appear more humane or effective than certain modern approaches.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the inspiration for the book:
  “She was the horse who started it all.” (04:09, Dr. Ropa)

• On medieval horse categories:
  “In the Middle Ages people could say, oh, this is a destrier, a war horse, this is a courser... a working horse or a pack horse.” (07:51, Dr. Ropa)

• On riders and warhorses:
  “If you were a medieval knight, you would probably have more than one horse because... you wouldn't ride that destrier until you reach the battlefield.” (14:14, Dr. Ropa)

• On practicality of horse care:
  “Once you destroy the horse, you're not going to get one just by walking into a supermarket.” (16:38, Dr. Ropa)

• On folklore and solstice:
  “During the night, the horses are walking all the time... no witches are riding them.” (22:14, Dr. Ropa)

• On the unicorn’s darker side:
  “The unicorn is going to ram into the tree with its horn and try to toss you off and eat you.” (25:20, Dr. Ropa)

• On bonds between people and horses:
  “For many people, there would be like, one horse who really goes to your heart and then others you could care about... for some, you just have a business relationship.” (31:49, Dr. Ropa)

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Topic | Timestamps | |---------|-------|------------| | Dedication to Fizz and origins | 02:39–04:20 | | Medieval horse categories | 07:25–10:05 | | Horses' many roles | 10:42–14:14 | | Tack, bits, and care | 15:03–17:51 | | Sacrifice and burials | 19:01–21:10, 32:28–36:12 | | Superstitions | 21:19–24:05 | | Unicorns/mythical horses | 24:05–28:32 | | Human-horse relationships | 28:32–32:28 | | Everyday presence | 36:12–38:13 | | Future research/projects | 38:16–39:51 |

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode combines scholarly thoroughness with warmth, candor, and a tangible love of horses. Both interviewer and guest share personal experiences, giving depth to nuanced historical analysis, and emphasizing both the remarkable continuity and difference in human–horse relationships across centuries. Dr. Ropa’s interdisciplinary approach and practical expertise offer a uniquely vivid picture of the medieval horse—far from a mere tool of war or labor, but a creature embedded in the fabric of society, imagination, and emotion.