Horses were a key element of a knight’s equipment.

The charger, i.e. the warhorse, was a solid and durable animal, yet with agile movements.  

During the Middle Ages there was an increase and spread in the use of bards for warhorses; these generally consisted in an armour for protecting its head, neck and chest, whilst the rest of the body was covered by a colourful mantle, which was often decorated with the knight’s heraldic insignia (figs. 1-2); it could also be padded in order to cushion blows and, in some cases, it was made with wire mesh.

During the fifteenth century the entire harness was made of metal plates, but because of its considerable weight its use was confined to tournaments and parades (figs. 3-4).

Fig. 1 - Battle scene (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destrier).

Fig. 2 - Battle scene (From https://arcieridelluponero.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/430079_323875247670201_2144209386_n.jpg).

Fig. 3 - Bard with metal plates (from http://www.heedkeen.altervista.org/HKXJ/biblioteca/Learmi.htm).

Fig. 4 - The armour and bard of Sigismund II of Poland, circa 1550 (from http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barda#mediaviewer/File:Royal_armoury_Stockholm_1.jpg).