Horse

"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.

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad on a horse outside of Masyaf.

Horses are a species of hoofed mammals, which have been used as a means of transport throughout most of recorded human history.

Their presence and use was widespread throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance era for several purposes, resulting in a variety of breeds to match their use.

Breeds

"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 in particular were common throughout Rome in the early 16th century, and differed in both appearance and characteristics.

Ezio assassinating a guard mounted on a Rouncey.

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

The standard horse, or Jennet, was mostly found in the Centro and Vaticano District, 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 of them had been renovated. Despite being the slowest type of horse, this armored breed was able to withstand more damage from enemy attacks without falling.

Other slightly uncommon breeds used at the time were the Percheron, which Lucrezia Borgia used for her carriages, and two sub-varieties of warhorse.

History

The horse and the horse-drawn carriage were equally common modes of transportation, and indispensable for the Assassin Order from the High Middle Ages until the Renaissance.

High Middle Ages

Altaïr fighting on horseback against a Templar knight.

A stable could be found directly outside the Assassin-controlled village of Masyaf, and horses residing there were often used by the Assassins to traverse the expanse of the Kingdom, allowing them to reach other cities for missions or assassinations.

A variety of horses could be found throughout the Kingdom as well, either in corrals or stables, or standing alone on the path with their rider nearby. During the height of the Crusades, horse-drawn carriages and warhorses were also common sights on the battlefield.

As such, 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. With this in mind, most Assassins 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 grown significantly in popularity. Travel stations could also be found just outside of major cities, and offered citizens safe and easy carriage rides for a fee.

In the large city of Rome, horses were often used to travel between districts, and were ridden by citizens, guards, and Assassins alike, with the latter able to hijack horses from the former two.

Horses also remained essential for warfare. Mario Auditore, as ruler and protector of Monteriggioni, always held horses in high regard, noting that "some of them will die alongside us; others will actually be key to keeping us alive."

As such, each of the Monteriggioni mercenaries was made to get to know his horse before riding out into battle.

Combat and movement

Altaïr striking an enemy from horseback.

In the High Middle Ages, horses were somewhat rare off of the battlefield, and Assassins were able to use the strength and speed granted by their mounts in order to gain an advantage over their enemies. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, for instance, could wield his sword to combat opponents while on horseback, or flee from them if necessary.

However, while an Assassin's horse could outrun any pursuer and leap most obstacles, a single sword strike could trip it and send its rider into the ground.

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

Ezio Auditore was also equally skilled at riding and combat, though he could 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.

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, the Hidden Blade and daggers.

Ezio jumping from his horse to air assassinate a Borgia soldier.

Though Ezio could not remain on horseback while wielding his Hidden Blade, he could perform assassinations from horseback. To do this, he would leap from the saddle to assassinate either an enemy on the ground or a mounted horseman, wherein he would subsequently steal their mount in the case of the latter. Conversely, he could also drag the rider of a horse to the ground, before using his Hidden Blade to assassinate them while they lay on the floor.

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, causing them to fall.

Trivia

• So far throughout the Assassin's Creed series, only two rideable horses had ever died. The first died during the Fall of Monteriggioni, when it was hit by a collapsing tower damaged by cannon fire, and the second during the Siege of Viana, when it was struck by a cannonball.
  • Never once in full, physical gameplay could a ridable horse die, instead only tripping over and causing its rider to fall off. This could particularly be seen during the memory "Outgunned", as horses shot by the Machine gun would not die, instead falling over and getting up again.
• In Assassin's Creed, horses taken from within the Kingdom had a tendency to abruptly change color when passing from one region to another.
• Though Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood was the first to allow horses inside cities, early gameplay videos showed that riding horses inside of a city was originally intended to be possible in Assassin's Creed.
• Horses were only used by guards in Assassin's Creed II during one mission, "Romagna Holiday", wherein they attacked Leonardo da Vinci's carriage.
• In Assassin's Creed: Revelations, the only time horses were encountered was during the carriage missions, and they were not ridable.
  • However, Altaïr and his son Darim, as well as Selim I and a Janissary, could be seen on horseback in two separate cutscenes.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

• Brotherhood was the first game where citizens were shown on horseback; though this led to a minor anachronism: female citizens were depicted as straddling their horse rather than sitting side-saddle. This was historically inaccurate, as seeing a woman's legs spread apart was considered a most vulgar and insulting sight during the Renaissance period.
• Galloping was disabled throughout Rome; and was only possible in Viana, Monteriggioni, Colli Albani, and the Colosseo's Lair of Romulus.
  • When the game was ported to the PC, the gallop option was reintroduced.
• Jumping from a horse onto a beam 20 times was a requirement for the completion of the Thieves Guild challenges.

• The achievement "Grand Theft Dressage" could be unlocked by stealing five horses in a row, without touching the ground.
• Destriers could not be found in any color but white, despite their image in the in-game manual showing a black-haired coat.
• A minor glitch may occur if Ezio was using his sword while on horseback. If he was knocked off while attacking, once he got back to his feet, he would still hold his sword with his arm raised above his head. It would remain this way, even when supposedly attacking or countering, until the weapon was sheathed.

Gallery

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  Horses used in the Defense of Monteriggioni.
• Ezio fleeing soldiers on the Passetto di Borgo with a Jennet.
  Ezio fleeing soldiers on the Passetto di Borgo with a Jennet.
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  Ezio facing a horseman on a Destrier.
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  A horseback battle between Ezio and a Borgia soldier.
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  Ezio and his apprentices on horseback.
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  Ezio attacking a horseman with a spear.