This is a very interesting thread, but I don't like horses more then camels and vice versa. This is because if i can have both on a field, and work in tandem perfectly together, then the enemy is sunk.

One tactic i remember trying was the battle for Jerusalem as the French, it was a crusade, and before the crusade moved out i bought some merc Bedouins, at least i think they were. I had about 3-5 camels with me along with alot of hobilars and I got me 4 Knights templar, and various other foot units equalling about 5500 men, compared to the Turkish 2000 or so waiting. Well I found one thing worked, the Sultan's 1st wave was mostly horse units, Turcoples, and the such, and well I had all the camels out 1st, I had them charge at the enemy horses, who surprisingly broke formation, before impact. I then sent some Hobilars, and the 2 of the templar units around the enemy and did a pincer of sorts.

It was a great victory, my camels helped to disrupt the enemy units, and my other cav and inf came in to get them in the classic hammer and anvil. One other surprise is, of the bedoiun mercs i had, i lost more from desertion then to the actual battles to take and hold Jerusalem.

Point to the mini story? Don't knock a unit that can make the enemy run in terror. Also the greater point, all units are great, and deserve reverence, even a unit of urban militia can spell the difference between defeat, and victory.