Destrier, Dextrarius

The knight’s warhorse. The destrier was probably a very powerful breed of horse capable of great strength and good speed and maneuverability. The warhorse was valued anywhere from £1 to more than £100 during the century, and was a valuable way that commanders paid their troops. In addition to the pay they received, the horses taken on a campaign were divided up amongst the nobility and the soldiers, sold or shipped home for additional income. The price of such a horse in modern terms was approximately analogous to an automobile. The best mounts were known as coursers , and fetched the higher prices. Knights generally rode palfreys between engagements, then mounted their destrier when they were required to be in armour , since the palfrey would fare poorly under such great weight, and was a walker more than a hunter, as the destrier seems to have been.