War Horses (Militarization of the Domestic Horse)

Timeline

1. c. 1–200Frontiers of the Roman Empire · frontier military districtsRoman legions supplemented their infantry with auxiliary cavalry (auxilia) and light horse; war horses were largely supplied by provincial stud farms and allied states, used for scouting, pursuit, and flank maneuvers, with the Rhine and Danube frontiers serving as major horse-breeding regions.
2. c. 200–400Iranian Plateau and Central Asia · Iranian PlateauThe Sasanian Empire bred large war horses to support cataphract charges, while steppe peoples employed light, agile horses for mounted archery tactics; Eastern and Western cavalry traditions met and influenced each other on the Mesopotamian frontier.
3. c. 100–500Hexi Corridor and North China · NorthwestDuring the Han dynasty the Taipu managed horse administration, with pastures established in the Hexi Corridor and Beidi to breed military horses; through the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, war horses remained key to frontier defense and Silk Road caravan transport, with frequent horse exchange with nomadic powers such as the Xiongnu and Xianbei.