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Royal armour: Arming the horse

Slideshow

Where do all the pieces of armour go on a royal horse?

Royal horse armour

From a crinet to a stirrup, do you know where all the pieces of armour go on a royal horse?
See our slideshow to find out...

(Silver and engraved armour of Henry VIII decorated in England by a Flemish craftsman in about 1516-17

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries
Shaffron

Defence for a horse's head. Forms which covered only the upper part of the head - known as a demi-shaffron - became popular in the mid-16th century.

The image shows the shaffron of the armour for field and tournament of Henry VIII. The shaffron was made at his workshop in Greenwich in 1540.

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries
Shaffron and peytral

This image shows the shaffron and peytral of Henry VIII’s silvered and engraved armour, made in Flanders, decorated by Paul van Vrelant in London with scenes from the lives of St Barbara and St George in 1514–16.

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries
Shaffron

In the 17th century, royal horses continued to wear horse armour, usually restricted to a head defence or shaffron. This example is from the gilt armour of King Charles I, originally made in the Netherlands for Henry, Prince of Wales, about 1612.

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries
Stirrup

Suspended from the saddle, the stirrup supports the rider's foot.

© The Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries