Forces of Islam Medium Cavalry 1 (2)

Arab and Kurdish horsemen practised a traditional pattern of repeated attacks and withdrawals known in Arabic as kwa wa farr (literally “hit and run many times”) through a range of military arts known as furusiya, including horsemanship, polo and archery. In battle a faris typically carried a number of weapons including a spear or javelins, bow and a sword and mace both on his person and strapped to his saddle.