The Knights Templar Cavalry: Horses, Battle Tactics & Shock Charges
The Knights Templar were elite heavy cavalry during the Crusades, riding warhorses like destriers, coursers, and rounceys. Learn how these knights used disciplined formations and shock tactics to dominate medieval battlefields.
The Horses of the Knights Templar
The horses used by the Knights Templar were not standardised breeds in the modern sense. Medieval Europe classified horses by type, function, and region rather than specific breed. However, several warhorse types were commonly used by Templar knights:
Destrier – The Classic Warhorse
The destrier was the most famous knightly horse, bred for battle.
Strong, muscular, and highly trained
Extremely expensive
Primarily used for cavalry charges
Despite myths, destriers were around 14.5–15.5 hands high, similar to a modern Andalusian. They were prized for:
Explosive acceleration
Courage in noisy battle conditions
Ability to kick and bite enemy horses
A Templar knight often rode a destrier during combat or formal charges.
Courser – Fast Cavalry Horse
Cursors were lighter and faster than destriers, ideal for:
Pursuit and manoeuvring
Service in the Crusader states
Middle Eastern horse breeds, particularly Arabians, influenced the courser’s speed and endurance.
Rouncey – Utility Horse
Rounceys were general-purpose horses for:
Travel
Patrols
Long marches
Knights often owned multiple horses. The rouncey helped preserve the destrier for battle.
Horses of the Holy Land
In the Crusader kingdoms, Templars encountered superior desert horses:
Arabian horse – Endurance and speed
Turkoman horse – Tall, fast steppe cavalry horse
Many Templars incorporated these bloodlines for better performance in the Middle East.
How Many Horses Did a Templar Knight Own?
According to the Rule of the Knights Templar, a knight could have three horses (sometimes a fourth if donated):
Destrier – Battle horse
Courser – Fast cavalry horse
Rouncey – Travel horse
This ensured that warhorses stayed fresh for the shock tactics that Templar cavalry relied upon.
How a Templar Cavalry Charge Actually Worked
The Knights Templar cavalry charge was highly controlled, disciplined, and devastating.
Formation Before the Charge
Front rank: Experienced knights with lances
Second rank: Supporting knights
Sergeants and light cavalry behind
The Beauseant banner was the rallying point; knights were forbidden to leave it without orders.
The Advance
The charge progressed in stages: walk → trot → gallop. Speeds reached 40–50 km/h before impact, maintaining formation tightness.
The Lance Position
The couched lance was tucked under the arm, leveraging horse momentum and knight weight.
A fully loaded knight + horse could weigh around 1,000 kg, creating devastating impact.
The Moment of Impact
Lances struck first, breaking enemy lines
Survivors drew swords or maces
Cavalry reformed for another charge if needed
Coordination with the Army
Worked alongside infantry and archers
Cooperated with other orders like Knights Hospitaller
Psychological Warfare
The sight and sound of dozens of armored knights and warhorses could make enemy troops break before contact.
When Charges Failed
Charges could fail if:
Terrain was rough
Enemy used spears or pikes effectively
Army was surrounded (e.g., Battle of Hattin, 1187)
“When the Templars charged, it wasn’t just knights attacking — it was a moving wall of iron, horseflesh, and discipline.”
Primary Sources
William of Tyre – A History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea (Chronicle of the Crusades)
Rule of the Knights Templar (Latin Rule, 12th century)
Secondary Sources / Modern Historians
Malcolm Barber, The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple
Helen Nicholson, The Knights Templar: A New History
Ann Hyland, The Medieval Warhorse
Thomas Asbridge, The Crusades: The Authoritative History of the War for the Holy Land