Horse

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Altaïr on a horse rearing outside Masyaf.

"Any worthwhile mercenary will know the value of a reliable, trained horse. Riding an animal that startles on the battlefield or loses speed quickly is a risk we will not take."

―Mario Auditore.

Horses were a means of travel, and were a necessity when passing through large areas, such as the Kingdom, San Gimignano, the Appennine Mountains or the Antico district of Rome.

Appearance

Colors

During the Third Crusade, horses residing in the stables just outside Masyaf were always either grey, black or chestnut, however, those found within the Kingdom, or at the entrances of cities, varied greatly in color.

Horses scattered throughout Renaissance Italy could also be found in a variety of colors.

Breeds

Ezio assassinating a guard mounted on a Rouncey.

"The stable keeper gives me a short tour. He presents the different breeds - some bred stocky for labor, some wiry for travel, and of course, the unflinching steeds we will ride into combat."

―Mario Auditore surveying the horses of Monteriggioni.

Three breeds of horse could be found and used throughout Rome, and differed in both appearance and characteristics.

The common horse or "Rouncey," heavily laden with saddle bags, could usually be found in the Antico and Campagna districts, with the guards riding them (possibly messengers) always pushing them into a quick gallop.

Ezio facing a horseman on a Destrier.

The standard horse or "Jennet" was mostly found in the Centro and Vaticano districts, and was usually ridden by civilians. This horse was the fastest of the three breeds.

The rarest type, the armored warhorse or "Destrier," could be found in any of Rome's districts still occupied by the Borgia, or at stables after all had been renovated. Despite being the slowest type of horse, warhorses were able to withstand more damage from enemy attacks without tripping.

History

The horse and the horse-drawn carriage were common modes of transportation, and indispensable for the Assassin Order from the Third Crusade until the Renaissance.

Third Crusade

The stables outside of Masyaf housed horses for the use of any Assassin who had been tasked to depart for any of the other cities, for missions or assassinations. A variety of horses could be found throughout the Kingdom as well, either in corrals and stables, or standing alone on the path, with their rider nearby.

However, guards stationed along the paths of the Kingdom were always wary of horsemen, particularly if they were riding hard, or acted as if they were being pursued. As such, most Assassin made it a point to ride slowly when in the presence of alert guards.

Renaissance

The stables of Monteriggioni.

By the Renaissance, though ridden horses still held their importance, horse-drawn carriages had also grown in popularity. Travel stations could often be found just outside of major cities, and offered citizens safe and easy carriage rides, for a price.

Horses were also essential for warfare. Mario Auditore, as ruler and protector of Monteriggioni, always held the horses in high regard; since, as Mario once noted, "some of them will die alongside us; others will actually be key to keeping us alive." As such, each of his mercenaries were made to get to know their horse before riding out into battle.

Unlike in other cities previously, Ezio Auditore faced mounted opponents upon arriving in Rome. As such, he learned to fight on horseback, assassinate horsemen, and dismount enemy riders, by either attacking them, or their horses.

Horses in Rome where used by citizens, guards and Assassins alike, with the latter able to hijack and use the horses of the former two.

Combat and movement

Altaïr fighting on horseback against a Templar knight.

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was a skilled horseman, and was able to use his sword to combat opponents while on horseback. When fleeing enemies, horses could usually outrun most pursuers, though they could be tripped by a strike from an enemy sword.

Though horses could easily plow through crowds, pulling the horse into a rear would normally startle nearby civilians, and clear a path.

Ezio Auditore was equally skilled at riding and combat, though he could also use a horse directly before or after free-running. He was able stand on the saddle at any time, and jump from horseback onto a wall or beam. Inversely, he could also jump directly onto horseback from a nearby building, or from a parachute.

A horseback battle between Ezio and a Borgia soldier.

Unlike Altaïr, Ezio (as well as any opponent he faced) was able to use a variety of his weapons while on horseback, both long and short-ranged; however, this excluded any heavy or two-handed weapon, or the Hidden Blade.

Though Ezio could not remain on horseback while wielding his hidden blade, he could perform assassinations from horseback, or on enemy horsemen. He could leap from the saddle to assassinate either an enemy on the ground, or a mounted horseman (wherein he would subsequently steal their mount). When facing a mounted opponent while on the ground, Ezio could drag them from the saddle, and assassinate them.

Upon dismounting a horse, depending on whether or not the steed had been stolen, it would either follow its rider, or flee immediately. Additionally, if their rider was in battle next to them, horses would often kick out at attacking guards, and cause them to fall.

Trivia

• In Assassin's Creed, horses taken from within the Kindgom have a tendency to abruptly change color when passing from one region to another.
• Horses are only used by guards in Assassin's Creed II during one mission, "Romagna Holiday", wherein they attack Ezio's and Leonardo da Vinci's carriage.
• So far throughout the Assassin's Creed series, a rideable horse has only died twice. This was during the Siege of Monteriggioni, where the player was only able to control the left and right directions, and during the Siege of Viana, when a horse was hit by a cannon ball.
  • Never once in full, physical gameplay can a ridable horse die, only ever merely trip and cause the player to fall off. This can particularly be seen during the memory "Outgunned," as horses shot by the Machine gun will not die, and will only trip and get up again.
• Though Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is the first to allow horses inside cities, early gameplay videos show that riding horses inside of a city was originally intended to be possible in Assassin's Creed.
• Brotherhood is also the first game where the citizenry are shown on horseback; but this leads to a minor anachronism: female citizens are depicted as straddling their horse rather than side-saddle. Seeing a woman's legs spread apart was a most vulgar and insulting sight during the Renaissance.
• In Brotherhood, galloping is disabled anywhere in Rome, and is only possible in Viana or Monteriggioni.
  • When the game was ported to the PC, however, the gallop option was returned.
• Jumping from a horse onto a beam several times is necessary for a Thieves guild challenge.
• An achievement called "Grand Theft Dressage" can be unlocked by stealing five horses in a row, without touching the ground.

Gallery

• Ezio on a horse jumping in Tuscany.
  Ezio on a horse jumping in Tuscany.
• Ezio on a horse running from soldiers on the Passetto di Borgo.
  Ezio on a horse running from soldiers on the Passetto di Borgo.
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  Ezio jumping from his horse to air assassinate a Borgia soldier.
• Ezio throwing a spear at a mounted guard.
  Ezio throwing a spear at a mounted guard.
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  Ezio and his Apprentices on horseback.
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  Ezio fighting from horseback.
• Ezio performing an aerial assassination on a moving horseman.
  Ezio performing an aerial assassination on a moving horseman.
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  Ezio attacking horseman with a spear.