Rouncey Rouncey The term rouncey (also spelt rouncy or rounsey) was used during the Middle Ages to refer to an ordinary, all-purpose horse. They were used for riding, but could also be trained for war. It was not unknown for them to be used as pack horses. While the destrier is the most well-known warhorse of the Medieval era, it was the least common, and coursers were often preferred for hard battles. Both were expensive, highly trained horses prized by knights and nobles, and the poorer knight, squire or man-at-arms would use a rouncey for fighting. A wealthy knight would provide
Horses in the Middle Ages light, fast and strong. They were valuable, but not as costly as the destrier. They were also used frequently for hunting. A more general-purpose horse was the rouncey (also "rounsey"), which could be kept as a riding horse or trained for war. It was commonly used by squires, men-at-arms or poorer knights. A wealthy knight would keep rounceys for his retinue. Sometimes the expected nature of warfare dictated the choice of horse; when a summons to war was sent out in England, in 1327, it expressly requested rounceys, for swift pursuit, rather than destriers. Rounceys were sometimes used as pack