Horse performance based on weight

[Legs]

The speed/maneuverability of horses should change depending on the weight of the rider's equipment.

Discuss.

[Penitent]

Nah.  Horses are pretty big and powerful animals.  Maybe the sumpter...but the rest of the horses seem fit enough to not be significantly affected by a man wearing armor. 

[Molly]

It already does afaik...

[Joker86]

While it is realistic, at least to a certain degree, I don't see a gameplay- or balance related necessity of that change. At least not concerning cavalry in its current shape, where heavy/plated cavalry is rather scarce anyway.

[MURDERTRON]

Damage would have to reflect weight too, then.  Especially for couching.

[donib]

Things like this would only increase the min maxing extremism in this game. Naked people on an arabian warhorse for maximum agility. Only spoils the fun.

[Penitent]

This is realism thread, take your game balance elsewhere!

I think realistically, a horse bred and trained for war will not flinch at carrying a person wearing 20 lbs vs 40 lbs of armor.  These are massive, four legged animals.  It wouldn't make a difference.

HOWEVER, a smaller, work horse (sumpter, for example)  Or maybe a horse only bred and trained as a riding horse (palfrey, rouncey) might have a small effect if a person is wearing heavier equipment.

Do not underestimate how strong and sure-footed a horse is!

[Carthan]

As much as I hate to say.
It really shouldn't have that much of an effect on the horses, at least proper battle steeds.

or pack mules....

[Penitent]

Think of it this way.  A destrier could weight around 1,700 lbs.  Say a man weighs 170 lbs.  He could be carrying 20 lbs of equipment (heavy gambeson, helm, gauntlets, boots, weapon).  If he is wearing plate he could be carrying 50lbs of equipment instead.

If you divide this by 10, you can see what it would be like in terms of a person.
It would be the same as a 170lb person carrying a 17 lb backpack, and adding either 2 lbs or 5lbs into the pack.  It wouldn't really make a difference.  So he is carrying 19lbs vs 22lbs.     It might if he was going on a very long multi-day march...but not in terms of a battle.

Add 4 legs into the equation, and it would be even easier to carry.

[GOBBLINKINGREATLEADER]

Coming from someone who actually has real life experience riding and caring for horses, it makes no difference to most horses if they are carrying a child or a 250-pound Amerifat with his fat kid on the back of the saddle too. It's basically negligible.

[Smoothrich]

A horse should give you 4 extra slots.  Or 8 extra.