Quote Originally Posted by Foot View Post
No, cavalry with short spears who hold them overhand are not shock cavalry and have a fast attack speed. Cavalry with large spears who hold them underarm are shock cavalry and their spears are poor in closecombat because they are slow to attack with.
But cavalry with large spears always* carry an side-arm that is effective in close combat. They can be ordered to use with[alt]-right click: this will order them to charge with their spears and fight in close-combat with their side-arm.

* The exception being lance-armed horse archers.