Medieval Games

Weapons from this period have also been found, such as the halberd, the anti-cavalry weapon, the spear and the lance with its heavy butt, dating from the Bronze Age. Remains of the bridle and spur show that precision fighting was practiced; thus with this date we can trace back to a form of equitation which existed in 4000 B.C., a time when domesticated horses were still unknown in other parts of the world, let alone being ridden.

The bullfighting Lusitanos of Portugal are the decedents of the ancient mounts of the famous Iberian riders the Ginetes. These are the horsemen of the Atlantic coast of Iberia. To quote Ruy d' Andrade "Fighting with the long light lance in the Gineta style is a very old practice indeed." Domesticated horses appear in drawings dating back to the Megalithic age; in the Neolithic age we can see these same horses mounted.

Such demanding practice required total self-confidence and dexterity from the rider, and from the horse it is vital to have perfect obedience, courage and agility. Indeed the art of hand to hand combat required even more brilliance than bullfighting. Fighting with a lance is, in the Iberian Peninsula, as old and ingrained a practice as our civilization itself. Clearly therefore, there is no better horse in the world for such work as the Lusitano. "

The Gineta horseman did not attack in a solid mass in military formation. Rather, they fought separately in little groups, taking advantage of the speed gathered by the horse at full gallop to throw javelins at infantrymen, then stopping suddenly to ward of enemy weapons, then retreating, then advancing again to hurl anew.

… It is easy to imagine the sheer art of two brilliant riders making their assault, fielding the attack, initiating sharp turns and pirouettes, reining in and collecting the horse for sudden speed or impulsion, and trying at all times to outwit each other.

In those early battles, the horse had to be very nimble, knowing when to advance, turn or stop. As for the rider, he was lightly clad, with only a helmet and a coat of mail (and sometimes with no protection at all) as he carried his small, but light, leather shield (the adarga), his sword, the falcate, his light lance counterbalanced by its heavy butt into battle, his reins in one hand.