It is clear from contemporary accounts that these were slight in build and smaller than the horses of Europe, Syria or Persia. Pero Tafur described them as ‘very small and lank’, and regarding their build commented that ‘it seems at times as if they could scarcely carry their masters.’ Bertrandon de la Brocquiere, however, noted that though they were lighter, Ottoman horses cost less in food, galloped better, and skirmished longer without losing their wind, than did Western horses. Chalkokondyles, describing the Battle of Kossovo in 1389, specifically stated that the Ottoman horses were faster than those of their Serbian adversaries.
Further details provided by Brocquiere tell us that only horses which could walk fast and gallop for a long time were used, and that nearly all were geldings. (He adds: ‘They keep some others for stallions, but so few that I have never seen a single one.’) Regarding their harness, he observed that ‘they saddle and bridle them a la jinete. Their saddles are commonly very rich, but hollow, having pommels before and behind, with short stirrup leathers and wide stirrups.’ The Turks sat in their saddles ‘as in an armchair, deep sunk in them, their knees very high, and with short stirrups, a position in which they cannot support the smallest blow from a lance without being unhorsed.’
Those of officers had throat-plumes, silk and woollen decorations, highly ornate saddles and saddle-cloths, and decorated harness.
World History
