RIDING HORSES. 125 



English archers. Certainly in those early days the mounts were 

 not very well adapted to carry such heavy weights and to achieve 

 success as Cavalry. Spanish horses were the favourites for 

 speed, endurance, and courage ; and Edward III got all his 

 remounts from Spain. Each knight had three horses, his first 

 charger being a stallion, the other two being either geldings or 

 mares, the smallest being a palfrey which he rode until the 

 danger point, when he was equipped by his squire and mounted 

 his first charger. 



The story of battles in which Knights and men-at-arms took 

 part is not complete without an allusion to the blind yet 

 exceedingly brave King John of Bohemia at the battle of Crecy 

 He asked to be led forward into the fray, and his knights, not 

 wishing to lose him, fastened the reins of the horses together, 

 putting him at their head. They fought so valiantly and advanced 

 so far that they were all killed, and were found next morning 

 on the ground with their horses still tied together. A glorious 

 ending to man and beast. 



The extreme dearth of good horses was one of the 

 complications of the collapse of the old Feudal Service (Henry 

 Vn time) and it was left to King Henry VHI, by enactments 

 very carefully and rigidly enforced, to lay the foundation of our 

 horse-breeding in England. 



Category E 2 horses, as previously mentioned, includes riding 

 animals not required to do the fast work of Cavalry. They are 

 less in height, may include cobs and ponies, and are allotted to 

 riding purposes of Field Companies, Infantry chargers, and 

 Ancillary Services. Their work being lighter, as a rule there, 

 are no complaints in respect to them, and provided they are 

 suitable lor the riders concerned, and that intelligent sympa- 

 thetic care is bestowed on them, they show a very good record 

 of service. Speaking generally, E 2 had little experience of 

 Veterinary Hospitals in France. They were somewhat like the 

 men of Mobile Veterinary Sections, inasmuch as they had no 

 use for back areas. Cobs were positively conspicuous by their 

 absence in Veterinary Hospitals. 



I have briefly alluded to Hackneys as riders. They were 

 not appreciated as such for fast work, but for ordinary, quiet 



