Gone Medieval How Horses Ran the Medieval World
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Feb 6, 2026 Dr. Anastasija Ropa, equestrian historian and author of The Medieval Horse, explains how horses functioned as everyday technology in medieval life. Hear about different types from warhorses to pack animals. Learn how mounts signaled status, featured in romance, and powered unseen labor that kept society moving.
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Horses Were Medieval Infrastructure
- Horses, mules and donkeys were as central to medieval life as cars are today.
- They powered warfare, agriculture, travel and social status networks across society.
Elite Warhorses Were The Minority
- Elite warhorses were rare, forming only a small percent of the equine population.
- Most horses were working animals used for ploughing, carts and packing rather than battlefield giants.
Warhorses Were Moderately Sized
- Medieval 'great' warhorses were moderate-sized by modern standards, often around 13–14 hands on average.
- Zooarchaeology and equipment studies show few horses over c.16 hands before the late 15th century.
