Quote Originally Posted by econ21
I've found this problem with almost all versions of RTW - vanilla, BI, EB, RTR etc. The fragility of cavalry in the "realistic" mods only makes it more obvious. It looks like charging cavalry don't "connect" very well with skirmishers - they visibly crash into close order heavy infantry, but seem to just get "caught up in" loose formation, skirmishing infantry. The retreating skirmishers then stop and "coagulate" around the cavalry, who have lost their impetuous, and often do severe damage on them.

Some people have recommend stringing out your cavalry very thinly when charging skirmishers and even adopting a loose formation, so you connect (charge bonus?) with more of them on impact. Some have even suggested charging through the skirmishers and then recharging back.

Personally, I am reluctant to charge lowly skirmishers with my fine, expensive, but vulnerable, cavalry. I reserve them for more decisive tasks. Instead I rely on slingers etc to see off the pests, but I agree it does not feel right.
I seem to be able to solve the skirmisher problem by charging in cavalry units in a double line group formation, which means that when the first get caught in the middle the second line usually routs the enemy, or at least gives the first line a chance to move out of the skirmisher unit without being destroyed. However if I charge in a single line the skirmisher unit is often fast enough to hunt my unit and kill many if I continue charging through, or if I try to turn around and recharge.