Well TA, for example at the Battle of Grandson the horse of Charles's cavalry refused to charge the front of a pike formation both times it was tried.

Quote Originally Posted by fallen851
You do mention something important, that pikemen can put their pikes on the ground, this is why the Swiss pikemen were so effective. I don't see examples of this in the ancient world though... especially if they held a shield in the other hand, (Swiss pikemen didn't [don't?]) it would be simply ineffective.
Ummm, the Macedonians used both hands, the shield was supported mostly by a neck strap allowing both arms to weild the sarissa. Do you think they could hold a 6-8 meter pike with 1 hand? What do you think the butt spike was for? The fact that you don't know that kind of damages your credibility with respect to the way the makedonian phalanx functioned.