I seriously think a lot of the "issues" people have with this game might be tied to difficulty level.

I have charged Macedonian Phalanx's with Roman cavalry a few times and your horses die like the Phalanx spears have a poisoned tip. Ive seen horses jump into the formation and before but they dont last long.

On the same account, playing multiplayer (Egyptians vs Numidians - where difficultly doesnt count I guess) I've had a enemy unit of elephants charge straight into a set Pharaohs guard Phalanx and the guard didnt flinch, yet somewhere else another group of Elephants charge into an un-set group and they got flung everywhere like bowling pins.

That same game my Pharaohs guard ripped up heaps of camels and cavalry, and they're hardly the strongest phalanx unit.