Arming the horse

Can you tell your ‘crinets’ from your ‘shaffrons’?

16th century horsewear

A king would have used similar horses for both tournaments and battle. They would have used a special type of stallion that needed to be fast, with lots of power.
Silver and engraved armour of Henry VIII, about 1515

Silver and engraved armour of Henry VIII, about 1515

Arming a horse in the 16th and 17th centuries commonly included using the following:

• Crinet
• Shaffron
• Crupper
• Peytral
• Stirrups

All the horse armour together was known as a bard.

In pictures: Royal horse armour

A royal horse shaffron from 1540 Where do all the pieces of armour go on a royal horse?
Find out how a horse’s body is protected with our slideshow of royal horse armour. View our slideshow »

Fit for a King

Fit for a King Opens 1 April 2010
See five hundred years of spectacular royal armour, offering a fascinating insight into the personalities, power and physical size of England’s kings. Entrance to this spectacular new exhibition is included in your standard admission ticket to the Tower.

Click here to find out more >

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Arming the horse

Arming the horse

Can you tell your ‘crinets’ from your ‘shaffrons’?

16th century horsewear

In pictures: Royal horse armour

Fit for a King

Palace Connections

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Bookmark and share - What is this?