Three thousand years ago, riding and controlling a horse without benefit of stirrups or saddle, and with just a primitive bridle, was a military problem in itself, and a complex one at that. Riders rode bareback, sitting towards the back of the horse, with legs raised rather high. They could not lower them because of the breadth of the horse’s belly. This position was extremely unstable, so the reins had to be short and rather stiff, as they served not only to direct the horse but for holding on. For that reason, too, the bits were wider on the sides, so the rider wouldn’t pull them out if he grabbed the bridle too tightly. It is likely that after prolonged use this type of bridle caused wounds to the horses’ mouths.

A lot of information on the character and appearance of the Assyrian riders can be gathered from the remains of stone reliefs, the most famous of which are found in the ruins of Nimrod, Khorsabad and Nineveh. From the beginning of the ninth to the end of the seventh century BC, three phases of development of the Assyrian cavalry can be discerned, which seem to be connected with three well-known rulers.

Reliefs from the time of King Assurnasirapli II (883-59BC) show light, unarmoured archers, some of whom are leading two horses, which lends credence to the theory that these horses lacked stamina and riders had to change mounts frequently. Also shown are pairs of riders; one of them is shooting an arrow, and the other handling both horses. In the ninth century BC, Assyrian horsemen had an auxiliary role, and their principal mode of combat was with bows and arrows or throwing javelins.

By the time of King Tiglathpileser III (745-27BC), the Assyrian horse archers are partially armoured: evidence that their tactics in battle were more aggressive, and that their role had increased in importance.

Finally, during the reign of King Assurbarnapal (668-26BC) there were three kinds of horsemen in the Assyrian army; light riders (members of nomadic tribes under Assyrian powers armed with bows and javelins), heavy archers in scale armour, and even more stoutly armoured riders, shown in close lance and sword combat with enemy heavy infantry.

As the cavalry became increasingly important, and gained the upper hand over combat chariots, the chariots became more and more weighty, and finally turned into a combination of battle platform and transport for heavy infantry, drawn by four horses.

During the period when we know of the Assyrian cavalry, the equipment of riders and horses became richer and more ornate. Riding gained in status, whereas it had been considered vulgar. Kings, the nobility and elite warriors used combat chariots driven by somebody else. One had to do the riding oneself.

The picture shows an Assyrian archer of the late period, on a horse 14 hands (145 cm/58 in) tall. The colour of the horse is that of the very old Akhal-Teke breed, now cultivated in Turkmenia, and closely related to the old Iranian breeds.