What if: Bull cavalry

Well, we all know that horse doesn't like to charge towards a row of pikes and spears.

So I was wondering, what if someone manged to create a bull cavalary unit?
 
no offense, but i don't think Bulls would want to charge at spears either.
and if they get angry, that's more dangerous to the Rider than the enemy....
 
no offense, but i don't think Bulls would want to charge at spears either.
Yep, Fenrir has got the big issue here. Are cattle sufficently more likely to charge a wall of pikes/spear/bayonets than a horse, that the differance makes up for the advantages (speed, manouvrability etc.) lost by switching from a horse to a cow?
and if they get angry, that's more dangerous to the Rider than the enemy....
Of cause, horses can also end up rather dangerous for their riders as well... I've been thrown for the thoroughbred once (came out a bit shaken and lightly bruised, was back ina saddle within minutes... but on the bloody Appy-cross rather than the TB. Of cause, nowdays I ride that TB for most of my lessons...) and had a bloody Appy-cross attempt to smash my knee on several occasions.
 
Of cause, horses can also end up rather dangerous for their riders as well.

I know. never rode a horse myself, but my neighbor almost got her foot torn off. the She got her foot caught on the saddle and the horse kept going.

so what large, ridable animal would be crazy enough to run at a wall of spikes?
Ostriches come to mind, but i doubt it.
 
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I don't think there is any ridable animal that will be stupid enough. Cattle have the added disadvantage that they are slow and usually quite placid (even bulls - they can be fast over short distances, but you have to annoy or hurt them a lot to make them aggressive).

You can train riding animals more or less well to charge infantry (horses, too) and I imagine the types that rely on being big and strong would be best suited. Rhinos maybe? They tend to assume they're invulnerable.
 
Thing with horses is that both sex can perform the same way. Would cows be able to perform on the same level as bulls? Cows are used to being protected by the bulls and might not be as willing to charge. You would only be able to use half as many animals with bulls.
 
Ok, what about Rhinos then? Assuming they don't have to charge into a row of spears.

Will a domiscated Rhino force be more effective in a flanking attack?
 

mowque

Banned
If it hasn't been done, their is a good reason for it. Can you imagine trying to raise a group of rhinos? :rolleyes:
 
Well, we all know that horse doesn't like to charge towards a row of pikes and spears.

So I was wondering, what if someone manged to create a bull cavalary unit?

The shish kabob becomes more prevalent in Western cuisine. That is probably the ultimate result following a battle with bulls charging pikemen.
 
Ok, what about Rhinos then? Assuming they don't have to charge into a row of spears.

Will a domiscated Rhino force be more effective in a flanking attack?

Rhinos are not domesticable, and even if they were, they wouldn't make very good cavalry steeds. They're actually rather fragile and short winded, and they've been known to drop dead when forced to run for long time/distance...
 
Cows also don't have strong backs for prolonged sitting/carrying. I'm not sure about bulls, but I would wager a similar result. True people to "ride" them, but thats for 8 seconds at most at any one time. I don't think it would work over long distances/battle times.
 
Rhinos are not domesticable, and even if they were, they wouldn't make very good cavalry steeds. They're actually rather fragile and short winded, and they've been known to drop dead when forced to run for long time/distance...

I'm almost positive that this was discussed in Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. If things like Rhinos could be domesticated like horses they would probably have been.
 
What's with all the ASB scenarios in the history section? Can we put them in the right forum please? Discussions here shouldn't stray from what is possible without sci fi.
 
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