Destrier The destrier is the best - known war horse of the medieval era . It carried knight s in battles , tournaments , and jousts . It was described by contemporary sources as the " Great Horse " , due to its significance . The word " destrier " is derived from the Vulgar Latin " dextarius " , meaning " right - sided " ( the same root as our modern " dexterous " and " dexterity " ) . This may refer to it being led by the squire at the knight ' s right side ( or led by the right hand ) or to the horse ' s gait , ( possibly leading with the right ) . While highly prized by knights and men - at - arms , the destrier was not very common . Most knights and mounted men - at - arms rode other war horses , such as coursers and rouncey s . These three types of horse were often referred to generically as chargers . Characteristics of the destrier . The word " destrier " does not refer to a breed , but to a " type " of horse : the finest and strongest warhorse . These horses were usually stallion s , bred and raised from foalhood specifically for the needs of war . The destrier was also considered the most suited to the joust ; coursers seem to have been preferred for other forms of warfare . They had powerful hindquarters , able to easily coil and spring to stop , spin , turn or sprint forward . They also had a short back and well - muscled loin , strong bone , and a well - arched neck . From medieval art , the head of the destrier appears to have had a straight or slightly convex profile , strong , wide jaw , and good width between the eyes . The destrier was specifically for use in battle or tournament ; for everyday riding , a knight would use a palfrey , and his baggage would be carried on a sumpter horse ( or packhorse ) , or possibly in wagons . Breeding and size of the destrier . There are many theories as to what type and size destriers attained , but they apparently were not enormous draft types . Recent research undertaken at the Museum of London , using literary , pictorial and archeological sources , suggests war horses ( including destriers ) averaged 14 – 15 hands , and were distinguished from a riding horse by their strength , musculature and training , rather than their size . This estimate is supported by an analysis of medieval horse armour located in the Royal Armouries , which indicates the equipment was originally worn by horses of 15 to 16 hands , about the size and build of a modern field hunter or ordinary riding horse . It is probable that the modern Percheron draft breed may be a descendant in part from the Destrier , though it is probably taller and heavier than the Destrier . Other draft breeds such as the Shire claim destrier ancestry , though proof is less certain . Equestrian statues in Italy suggest a " Spanish " style of horse that today would be referred to as a Baroque horse , such as the Andalusian horse , Friesian horse , or even a heavy but agile warmblood breed such as the Irish Draught . Modern estimates put the height of a destrier at no more than 16 hands , though with a strong and heavy physique . Though the term " Great Horse " was used to describe the Destrier , leading some historians to speculate that such animals were the forerunners of modern draught horse breeds , the historical record does not support the Destrier being a draft horse . Modern attempts to reproduce the destrier type usually involve crossing an athletic riding horse with a light draft type . These includes crossbred s such as the " Spanish - Norman " , a cross between the Percheron and the Andalusian and the Warlander a cross between the Andalusian and the Friesian horse . Value of quality war horses . A good destrier was expensive . 7th century Salic law gives a price of 12 solidi as weregild , or reparational payment , for a war horse , compared to 3 solidi for a sound mare or 1 solidus for a cow . In later centuries destriers became even more expensive : the average value of each of the horses in a company of 22 knights and squires in the county of Flanders in 1297 compares to the price of seven normal coursers . The price of these destriers varied between 20 and 300 livres parisis ( parisian pounds ) , compared to 5 to 12 livres for a normal courser .