Courser

A courser is a historical horse type rather than a modern breed of horse. In medieval and early Renaissance Europe, the word was used for a swift, powerful riding horse suited to war, hunting, and rapid travel. Coursers were generally lighter and faster than the heaviest destriers, yet stronger and more valuable than ordinary riding horses. Because the term comes from period usage, it does not describe a fixed height, color, registry, or closed bloodline.

Modern references to a courser usually appear in history, reenactment, gaming, literature, or discussions of medieval cavalry. Anyone selling a living horse as a courser should be expected to identify its actual breed or cross, training, size, and temperament. For historical riding displays, people often choose athletic baroque horses, warmbloods, stock-horse crosses, or other individuals that can safely carry the rider and equipment. Care is simply normal horse care based on the real animal's body type and workload, not the old label.

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