Courser (horse)
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This article is about coursers. For information about other horses in the Middle Ages, see Medieval horses.
A courser is a swift and strong horse, frequently used during the Middle Ages as a warhorse. It was ridden by knights and men-at-arms.
Coursers are commonly believed to be named for their running gait,[1] (from Old French cours, 'to run'.[2]). However, the word possibly derived from the Italian corsiero, meaning 'battle horse'.[3]
[edit] Coursers in warfare
The courser was more common than the destrier,[4] and preferred for hard battle as they were light, fast and strong.[1] They were valuable horses, but less expensive than the highly-prized destrier.[5] Another horse commonly ridden during war was the rouncey, which was an all-purpose horse.
[edit] Other uses
Coursers were also used occasionally for hunting.[3]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ a b Oakeshott, Ewart. A Knight and his Horse, Rev. 2nd Ed. USA:Dufour Editions, 1998
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 10th Ed, 1999
- ^ a b Hyland, Ann. The Warhorse 1250-1600, UK: Sutton Publishing, 1998
- ^ Prestwich, Michael. Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996,
- ^ Gravett, Christopher. English Medieval Knight 1300-1400, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2002, p 59
