the installation of stalls of wood or hurdles. Detailed records of the fitting of an English fleet of 1340 show the creation of 418 hurdles, 413 iron rings and staples, canvas mangers and the creation of four gangways for loading 30 ft long by 5 wide. Similar records from 1338 show 47 ships were equipped with 134 tuns to carry water for horses. Whether English vessels used canvas slings to support the horses like contemporary Mediterranean practice is uncertain. Military historian Michael Prestwich speculates they did and he is supported by naval historian Ian Friel, who believes that the references to canvas mangers referred to above should actually be translated as canvas slings. Shipping horses for trade The development and building of horse transports for use in war meant it remained easy to transfer horses for breeding and purchase during peacetime. After William of Normandy's successful conquest of England, he continued to bring horses across from Normandy for breeding purposes, improving the bloodstock of the English horses. By the time of the Hundred Years' War, the English government banned the export of horses in times of crisis. Footnotes References Bennett, Matthew; Bradbury, Jim; DeVries, Kelly; Dickie, Iain; Jestice, Phyllis G. (2005) Fighting Techniques of the Medieval World: AD 500-AD 1500, London: Amber Books Hyland, Ann (1994) The Medieval Warhorse: From Byzantium to the Crusades, London: Grange Books, Nicolle, David (1999) Medieval Warfare Source Book: Warfare in Western Christendom, UK: Brockhampton Press. Nicolle, David (2000) Crécy 1346: Triumph of the longbow, Osprey Publishing Paperback Prestwich, Michael (1996) Armies and Warfare in the Middle Ages: The English Experience, New Haven: Yale University Press Wilson, David M. (1985) The Bayeux Tapestry, London: Thames and Hudson See also Medieval ships Horses in the Middle Ages Transport in the Middle Ages Naval warfare of the Middle Ages Horse transportation Horse trade