Light Vs Heavy Army Horses

Two armies charge at each other on horse-back. One side has huge horses with heavily armored knights on their backs while the other has smaller horses moving much faster and their riders wear only chain mail shirts and small round shields for defense. These two armies are composed of heavy cavalry (the big horses and the heavily armored knights) and light cavalry (the small fast horses and the lightly armored riders). There are several differences in these armies. while both do ride horses their speed, expenses, and killing power are very different.

The speed of these two units is incredible, and not just their moving speed; their preparation speed is also in great contrast. Light cavalry only need to throw on a chain mail shirt, strap on their belt, and saddle their horses which should take about 10 to 15 minutes. On the other hand heavy cavalry have to put on the chain mail shirt, buckle on their greaves --leg armor-- and Cuirass

--chest armor-- ,and don a helmet that had to be put on one layer at a time (there are three) that weighed around 12 pounds. Then after they get that on they have to strap on their belt and grab their lance and finally they get to go saddle their horse. This should all take around 50 minutes.

Now the movement speed of light and heavy cavalry are very different as well. The light cavalry rode small horses that were bred for speed and not to carry 500 pounds of metal. While the horses of the heavy cavalry are bred for carrying 500 pounds of metal and not for speed. So once you put 500 pounds of metal on a huge battle horse that couldn't run fast any way you have a horse that can run for about 5 minutes at about half the speed that a light cavalry horse can run at for a hour. You could line a light cavalry and a heavy cavalry next to each other and race them the light cavalry will win 99% of the time.

The expenses of these two units are very large indeed, but the heavy cavalry cost a lot more then the light cavalry. The comparison is that of a modern day smart car -- $15,000-- and an Acura RL -- $50,000--, that's a pretty big difference. For heavy cavalry equipment means buying a huge horse one and a half inch thick pure steel plates to cover the man and the horse. Then you need to buy a lance that is basically a small tree with a pointy end, and a sword that's about three feet of steel and about two inches thick for the weaponry. On the other hand, the light cavalry are relatively cheap only a small fast horse specially bred, a chain-mail shirt and a sword that was two and a half feet long and 1 inch wide. with the prices so vastly different a general could buy five light cavalry for the price of one heavy cavalry, and five versus one are never good odds for the one.

The killing power of these two units was vastly different also. One on one the heavy cavalry would win because they have the advantage of reach with their lance and then with their longer sword, and with their armor so much harder to get through. The light cavalry would lose in a fight in spite of his maneuverability