Was gallopers used for war games?

Did you know that merry-go-rounds, also called “gallopers”, or “flying horses” or, more commonly, “carousels,” have been around since 500 A.D.? At first they were used for war games and for training horsemen who practised swiping at each other with swords while sitting on the moving platforms. The round and round as well as the up and down movement made hitting each other difficult and prepared the cavalrymen for actual combat.

Carousels were at first kept secret by the European Kings who hid them inside their castles, so that their enemies did not get to preparation exercises.

It was much later that this top secret cavalry training equipment began to be used for entertainment!

 

Picture Credit : Google