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Martial Cavalry Warriors

Disciplines > Warfare > The Six Secret Teachings > 6.7 Martial Cavalry Warriors

Teaching set  | Observed lessons | Discussion | See also

Teaching set

Leopard Secret Teachings 6.7 (57)

Observed lessons

• Horsemanship in fighting requires strength, speed and outstanding horse control.

Discussion

The requirements of horsemanship in days when the horse (or chariot) was the only step up from fighting on foot. The horses had to not only traverse all kinds of domain but also be ready to fight in this. A good warhorse was not just a steed but a weapon too. It should not be scared by the tumult of battle. It should be able to shrug off light wounds. If your horse could scare opposing warriors and also their horses, this was a huge advantage. Horses could even push, kick, bite and so on.

The key point again here is that battle requires everyone and everything to be at its peak performance. When in one-to-one combat, if the opposing person has a single advantage over you, then this can mean death. Business can be similar. If a competitor or its products are even a bit better than you, then you are at a disadvantage than can be, if not fatal, then enough to damage your business and your career.

See also

Learning

Sawyer, R.D. (1993). The Seven Military Classics of Ancient China, Basic Books