There is a severe flaw however in relying a counter-tactic against mounted archers to light horse. It's a mixed bet, and upon wiser deployment of mounted archers in combination with heavy horse, armed to the teeth, the light cavalry is basically dead meat, as was proven at Carrhae. On the other hand, armed light horse could severely disrupt horse-archers, as a screening force to prevent the dreaded envelopment tactic; In coordination with foot-archers firing behind rudimentary fortifications and a reliable line of shields, this could put a screeching halt to mounted archers.

The Romans, for a start deployed slingers for this purpose, until they began to more extensively draft archer auxiliaries for the purpose. Horse-archery relies exclusively upon two axioms to its success: Mobility and space. A third axiom, amplifying the two basics, stock, is a form of insurance for sustaining the paradigm.

In RTW terms, light horse deployed against my mounted archers, amounts to a suicide mission and a sure way to ensure victory; All fire is directed against them, and in less than two full volleys, they have been dispatched. Enemy elements beyond the attention are taken care of by the swift deployment of heavy horse. Enemy heavy cavalry however is a very different deal and will rely majorly on superior numbers of heavy horse to carry the day.