Cavalry
Like the Persian infantry, the early Achaemenid mounted troops were mostly unarmoured. though we are told that Masistius, the cavalry commander at Plataea, wore scale armour hidden under his tunic.

The later Persian cavalryman as pictured in the Alexander Mosaic above, is wearing a red, white-lined non-metallic cuirass in the Greek style. The cavalry are all wearing highly decorated Median costumes with dark yellow caps. The caps, being the same colour suggests they may be part of a uniform. The clothing is brightly coloured and decorated with circles, squares, rosettes and stripe patterns.

The use of horse-armour was more characteristic of the later Achaemenid than the earlier cavalry. It included:

• barding - a leather and metal apron to protect the horses breast
• a bronze plate to protect the horse's head
• parameridia - part of the saddle that curved round to protect the riders thighes.

Horse armour was used on Saka and Assyrian horses from the 7th century B.C. but was not mentioned in Persian armies until 401 B.C.

The horse vase found at Susa is characteristically Persian and shows a decorative leather apron with what appears to be metal scales to cover the horses breast. Dated 7th century B.C., it certainly supports the use of barding even by the earliest Persian cavalry.

Cavalry, up until to end of the Achaemenid period, fought with 2 cornel wood javelins called palta, instead of the short thrusting spear used by the infantry. The palta, were 1.5 to 1.8 metres in length and tipped with iron or bronze heads. They could be thrown immediately before contact or used as a thrusting weapon. When fighting against the heavily armoured Macedonians the Persians threw both their palta,and drew their short swords or axes to close with the enemy. The use of a cavalry lance is evident even during the time of Cyrus but it is only with the coming of Alexander and the increasing use of armour that the lance shows any widespread use. The use of heavier and more restrictive armour of the Persians may also lead to the use of the lance which does not require the same unrestricted arm movement.

Persian cavalry never seemed to fully adopt the use of shields during the Achaemenid period. Light wicker and leather shields first appeared around 450 B.C. It is thought Scythian cavalry employed as mercenaries by the Persians first introduced their use. This is based on the appearance of Greek vase images showing mounted Persian style figures carrying shields at this time.

The Persian / Median cavalry were skilled in both skirmish and close combat fighting. When skirmishing with the enemy, small independent squadrons would ride along the front or flanks of the enemy discharging volleys of javelins or arrows, then wheel away only to shoot at an enemy as they retreated. This was to be later termed the "Panthian shoot". When engaging both infantry or cavalry in hand to hand combat, they formed closely packed formations, several ranks deep and charged the enemy. After discharging their javelins they then switched to their short iron swords or axes.

This Achaemenid seal now in the British Museum shows that the famous "parthian shot" was already being used well before the Romans encounted its use when fighting the Parthians. This cylinder seal shows a Persian shooting as its flees from an attacking lion. Both Alexander and the Romans encountered light bow-armed cavalry using this effective tactic. The expression, "Parthian shot" or "parting shot", is used to mean 'something said while leaving without waiting for a reply'.

The success of the early Persian army was the ability of its cavalry and infantry to fight as a coordinated force in both attack or defense. Cavalry were able to surround or pin an enemy, pursue routed troops, limit enemy foraging or cut the enemies communication or supply lines.

Horses
The Persian's had access to a variety of horses from different sources. The satraps of Bactria, Media and Cilciia provided hundreds of horses as part of their yearly tribute. These horses would not necessarily be the same type as there were several different breeds of horse throughout the Middle east and Asia.

The Scythian and Saka horses were originally of the "Przewalski" type - small, stocky ponies with naturally short manes and long tails.

The Scythian horses found in the permafrost graves were chestnut, browns, bays or jet black. No dapple grey, mottled bay, skewbald, roan or grey. None had white patches, which are common on brown horses in the present day. It is thought light coloured or white marked horses were avoided. These horses, having a corresponding light coloured hoof that was easily injuried. So apparently, it was not until the invention of the horseshoe, that we start to see white patches on horses extremities.

The Scythian "Przewalski" horse inter-bred with other horse variaties throughout the middle east.

Median horses were noted for their size and strength, although not particularly tall, about 14 or 15 hands. They had large heads and strong necks with most being chestnuts, browns or blacks. Herodotus mentioned the Nisaean plain, a vast flat fertile plain in Media for producing horses from unusual size.

Herodotus mentions two different horses; a white 'Nisaean' horse, which were used as mounts for generals and kings. A white horse was prized more as symbol of wealth than for its speed or strength. They made the rider stand out both on the battle field and also in daily life. The breeding of white horses must have been controlled and breeding herds kept separate from the others. White horses also seem to have been used in religious functions, there is reference to sacred white horses belonging to Cyrus and Xerxes.

Another horse Xenophon mentions is a finely bred Armenian horse which he says was smaller than the Persian type. This seems to describe the horse now referred to as the 'Caspian' horse which has been recently recognised in Iran as an ancient breed. Athough, only about 12 hands in height, when compared with the images of early Persian horses, it has the same small ears, prominant forehead and cheekbones and large nostrils.

With the exception of chariot horses, Persian horse manes were clipped short, like mounted archers of other nations, so it would not interfere with the action of shooting. The tails were tied up to prevent it being grabbed by the enemy. The forelock was left long and tired with ribbon to form a plume above the head. Its colour would be the same colour as the horses' mane.

Equipment
The large saddle cloths were brightly coloured, heavily embroided with geometric designs or animal motifs and often with scalloped edges. Made of felt, sometimes with leather edging or backing, they were held by breast and girth straps that were knotted around toggles or spacers, buckles being unknown.

Leather bridles in red or light brown colour consisted of side-straps, nose bands with or without chinstraps, sometimes forehead-straps and throat-lashes. The bit were iron or bronze.

Apart from the use of the saddle cloth, horses were ridden bareback, stirrups, horseshoes or saddles were yet to be invented. The Scythians did use what is essentially cushioned saddle cloth. Leather covered cushions, stuffed with deer hair or straws, were stitched with sinew thread with wooden supports. These highly decorated saddles were adopted by the later Achaemenid Persian cavalry.

Xenophon learns to use small bags tied around the feet of the horses and baggage animals when marching through deep snow to prevent the animals sinking up to there bellies.

Xenophon also mentions how Persian horses were hobbled at night to allow them to feed without running away.