Quote Originally Posted by The Wizard
So, no, I don't think these big work horses were war horses. They don't even gallop all that fast (take the Belgian for instance), being so bulky. And speed was an important part of the couched lance charge. If anything, these horses were stronger, faster and had more endurance than any step mount (hence the known fact that every Mongol had four to five horse with him).
Oh the stepp mounts had lots of endurance - the reason the Mongols had four to five of them is because they often moved at a fast pace - horses can only cover so much ground at a run or canter with weight. To move faster then their enemies could possibly plan on - the Mongols would switch horses - giving the loaded horse a breather from the weight - all this while moving at a pace that if you had just one horse it would kill the horse and leave the rider on the ground - as an infantry soldier with no experience fighting on the ground.

So with 4-5 horses moving at different speeds walk, trot, canter, and run - the mongols moved - allowing a horse to walk provides it sufficent rest for the type of warfare the Mongols practiced - all this allowed the Mongols to move faster, farther, and with horses that could function in battle - then what they could of done with one horse.