Don't argue with Corsair, hes exaggerating alot and mad because he gets killed by heavy cav with 2 bumbs cause high-agi 1h + light armor. All you said so far is correct and also normal on EU, no somewhat good player has problems with dodging cav or rearing/damaging them without being damaged alot himself.
I play 2h, hoplite/polearm and 1h medium-heavy cav- chars and have no problems with any class against any class in any situation, except ranged of course.
i'm 21/21, 140 wpf pole, +3 red tassel spear, and i wear between 30 and 55 body armour
))
as for the horses, i'm not exaggerating, +3 mamluk horses i regularly rear to the face with their full speed bonus, and this can happen 5, 6 times in a round without them dieing.
it's honestly ridiculous.
--------------as for dodging cav and awareness etc etc, sure, if it was a 5v5, np.
it's not though, it's eu1; 30v30, 40v40, 50v50. these guys take ridiculous
chances; they repeatedly attack you in the back even when you have a spear ready, trying to 1 shot kill you, they're completely relying on luck (which is massively boosted by the fact that their horses are so tough); i can be paying attention 9/10 times, rear 9 horses (if they're all heavy horses none of them will die), but that 1/10 times when a heavy cav guy gets through and 1 shot kills me, purely relying on stats and luck, it's just stupid.
this patch, however, has solved that, so it's fine. these people complaining that they can't play as invincible 8 kdr battle tanks anymore is pretty dumb though, just grow a pair and play a fair class guys
EDIT: if you have a +3 mamluk and would like to come on eu3 to test how many hits it takes i would be more than willing