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Studies of transport methods during Late Antiquity make it possible nowadays to overcome the generally accepted views on harness, stirrup or saddle. For forty years now, scholars have been able to demonstrate how capable the Romans were in the West in making use of equids for transport. Indeed, by analysing and cross-checking literary, iconographical and archaeological data, it seems that this period is marked by numerous advances, and even if this was relatively slow, there was continuous progress. Thus, the Middle Ages should no longer be considered the period of "major innovations", raising horse-riding to new heights with respect to Antiquity. This article aims to describe specific horse equipment for the saddle, stirrups and for the harness during Late Antiquity in the West, showing their efficiency as well as their flaws and also presents some rare iconographic documents of the period concerning this theme. [Transl. by the Redaction]
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