Courser (horse)

This article is about the horse. For other uses of the term, see Courser (disambiguation).

This depiction of a knight on horseback might show a courser

A courser is a swift and strong horse, frequently used during the Middle Ages as a warhorse. It was ridden by knights and men-at-arms.

Coursers are commonly believed to be named for their running gait,^[1] (from Old French cours, 'to run'.^[2]). However, the word possibly derived from the Italian corsiero, meaning 'battle horse'.^[3]

Coursers in warfare

The courser was more common than the destrier,^[4] and preferred for hard battle as they were light, fast and strong.^[1] They were valuable horses, but less expensive than the highly-prized destrier.^[5] Another horse commonly ridden during war was the rouncey, which was an all-purpose horse.

Other uses

Coursers were also used occasionally for hunting.^[3]

See also

• Horses in the Middle Ages

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b} Oakeshott, Ewart. A Knight and his Horse, Rev. 2nd Ed. USA:Dufour Editions, 1998
2. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, 10th Ed, 1999
3. ^ ^{a b} Hyland, Ann. The Warhorse 1250-1600, UK: Sutton Publishing, 1998
4. ^ Prestwich, Michael. Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996,
5. ^ Gravett, Christopher. English Medieval Knight 1300-1400, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2002, p 59