Just a quick logistical question. The time is the 9th century, the place is Europe (or Britain, more specifically).
I need to get about 200 armed and mounted soldiers 150 miles and they need to be there yesterday, and have energy on the other end to fight.
I have no idea how fast horses can move under those conditions. How long would it take?
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Nov 28, 2008 - 18 02
In Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, a carriage ride of 75 miles began in the early morning and took all day. On horseback, I would think you could travel faster, but I think you have to allow for two days travel. That's the best I can do for you.
-- Patsy
----------Madame X, MD
61,428 / 50,000
Nov 30, 2008 - 16 06
My novel takes place during the 14th century and I had a similar question re: the distance traveled in one day. I found the following quote in "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century" by Barbara Tuchman. I relize it pertains to the 14th not the 9th century, but I think the info is still the same.
“An average day’s journey on horseback was about 30 to 40 miles, though it varied widely, depending on circumstance…"
----------2007 - Winner!
50,090 / 50,000
Dec 1, 2008 - 11 55
You could, in the 9th century, send a letter or a message with a rider from one end of England to the other and it would take a week. That's about 50 miles a day, if you estimate England to be 400 miles long, approx. No lone horse could do that, neither could those carriage horses that travelled 75 in a day - they changed horses at inns.
A racehorse travels at 35 mph at full gallop. He can maintain this for a few minutes, sure. A walking pace is about 4-6mph, a trot is double this.
A horse could do, max, 30-40 miles a day. It would have to very fit and would need to be well fed in the evenings to supplement the fact it is working and not grazing. The English fed oats to their horses.
A fit horse can work 7 hours a day, at varying paces, as long as it stops for water here and there.
I hope this helps. I have worked in riding school, racing yards, hunt yards and also drive the shires at the Weald and Downland museum, so do get in touch if you need any more info.
And, btw, do think native ponies rather than horses. The horse tended to appear in England post 1066 and was very much reserved for the rich. Native ponies are also a lot sturdier and can live off gorse if they had to.
41,703 / 50,000
Dec 4, 2008 - 13 22
I'm not sure if the OP is still interested in this question but something worth considering. It would take the commander a LOT of time (several hours) to establish a battle plan, stage his forces, etc. You can't just show up and, you know, start crossing swords. Not with 200 people.
If the horses are moving at a canter of 5 mph, that would take them 30 hours of riding. Split that up into two days, and that is 15 hours each day. The horses, and the men, would be exhausted. Then on the morning of the third day, they could arrive at their final destination, deploy into their battle formation, and hope their horses aren't too tired to charge.