Horses for a horse archer

[Ronin]

What horses are good for a hore archer? Simply, what are the desired stats in a horse for a horse archer? Which horse to loom?

I see courser and arabian warhorse are meant to be good for horse archers. But I can hardly think they are. In my opinion survivability of a horse is much more important. Therefore destrier seems like a much better choice. But if I look a bit more closer to the horses shop, war horse has only -1 speed and -1 manuever while offering much more protection. After spending more time, even cataphract horse is beginning to feel like a good idea. Since cataphracts also used horse archery that's not very absurd. But after the moment I think that, even a plated charger would be a great choice for a horse archer who destroys everything on it's path and laughs at enemies while shooting them down; I think I must have a stop and ask for the community help. I personally do not have any experience playing as any type of cavalry in cRPG. I only know horses cost A LOT, so price should be a factor as well.

Simply, I am a bit confused at the moment about which horse is good to loom if I am going to be a (high level) horse archer. So I ask your help.

Edit: Please think that I will have 5 riding at first and play with it for some time, and then I will have 8 riding. Basically the question is which horse is good to loom when I have 5 riding and which horse is good to loom when I have 8 riding? It's actually 2 questions.

[Tears of Destiny]

The popular choice is:
Arabian Warhorse

Otherwise from what I have seen:
Destrier
Cataphract Horse/Large Warhorse
Desert Horse

With a classic 15/24 build, you should be able to ride the Arabian anyways.

[larlek]

Sumpter horse. Best horse in the game imo.

[Ronin]

The popular choice is:
Arabian Warhorse

Otherwise from what I have seen:
Destrier
Cataphract Horse/Large Warhorse
Desert Horse

With a classic 15/24 build, you should be able to ride the Arabian anyways.

Well, thank you for your response but that doesn't quite explain what is the desired set of skills in a horse. Arabian Warhorse looks like a bad choice. 10 body armor is very very low to compensate it's good manueverability. Actually I am a fan of manueverability in a horse but it has no good stats other then that. I would be better with a steppe horse instead considering it is 12k cheaper.

For a lancer/heavy cavalry it is easy to go with the highest ratio of heavy/cheap horse I can get, and destroy all in my path like a mighty swadian knight/sarranid mamluke. But a horse archer must be a bit of something different

Sumpter horse. Best horse in the game imo.

Thanks for your trolling. You contributed a lot to the world.

[Rusty_Shacklefjord]

Maneuverability is very important for a horse archer. You can't block while shooting, so you need to be able to dodge instead. That's why the arabian war horse is so popular - they're very maneuverable, and have pretty good speed besides. If you have enough riding skill, the arabian is the best option imo. The next best would probably be a desert horse, followed by destrier/courser and the heavy horses.

[Riddaren]

A common HA build is:

15/24
ha 4
ri 6
pd 5
wm 8

Meaning you can use all horses but the arabian warhorse.
I would use desert horse most of the time. Maybe destrier or an armoured horse if there is a lot of ranged in enemy team.

[larlek]

Thanks for your trolling. You contributed a lot to the world.

I do try. But really sumpter horse is cheap as sin, so for peasants like me it really is the best horse.

[Ronin]

Oh ok then
Well money shouldn't be a problem, as steppe horse or desert horse are horses cheap enough to switch from time to tim, if I really feel desperate. But I am asking, which horse should I loom? I know you will most probably tell me to try every horse until I find the most suitable for me. Yet, I think asking never hurts since I never played as a Horse Archer in cRPG before. There may be good strategies I am not aware of. Which has a probability to change my gameplay, therefore the choice of a horse. Thanks for all of the replies so far, by the way. I think I have a general idea about horses now.

[Remy]

Destrier, Courser or Arabian are really the best for a HA.


Destrier for survivability(close range support, bumping enemies, melee if build supports it)
Courser for speed(high speed hit and run tactics)
Arabian for maneuverability(close range support, cutting through enemy formations through agility)


Though I tend to use the Steppe horse when I notice a lack of enemy ranged or need to save money. 

[Fartface]

I prefered champ destrier , But i was the heavier HA bumbshooting alot etc.