OUTFLANK
Although not obviously effective in a skirmish game like The Lord of The Rings, an outflanking manoeuvre still has value. The main use of Outflank is against opponents who rely heavily on spears and pikes – usually a deathtrap for cavalry. To get the most use out of these weapons they have to keep their models in a compact formation, which means outmanoeuvring them is incredibly straightforward for a cavalry force. By sending a portion of your warriors around the flanks of this formation, you can force your opponent to do one of two things: spread out to stop you, or ignore it. If they spread out, you can simply switch to Hit and Run tactics and take them apart piecemeal. If they ignore the outflanking models, they leave you at liberty to have your flanking force charge the rear of their formation – effectively robbing them of the advantage of their spears and pikes.

The Rohan Royal Guard countercharge against the Uruk-hai of Isengard.

HARASS
Perhaps the most straightforward tactic, but still a useful one, is to use your missile cavalry to pepper your opponent with arrows whilst remaining outside of their charge range. This can quickly prove effective against an infantry force with a minimum of archery of its own. Be warned though that this tactic requires careful thought as to how far to move each turn – it is better to move the full rate and not shoot rather than to get caught.

STIRRUPPED INFANTRY
Remember that each of your cavalry models can carry a single passenger. That passenger cannot fight or act in any way while being carried, but the steed is not slowed in any way. What this means, of course, is that you can use the cavalry element of your force to transport your infantry into advantageous positions long before they could get there themselves. It's a particularly useful way of increasing the Movement rate of Heroes that do not come with options for steeds (such as Saruman or Haldir) and can be used to quickly secure objectives or simply pave the way for a Hit and Run (see previously). Be warned though, this tactic is not without its disadvantages, not least the fact that if the model is charged while the passenger is still stowed (as it were), the passenger may not fight. Another consideration is that if the steed is slain, both the rider and passenger may end up stranded away from the action. Even worse, a Sorcerous Blast will hit not only the rider and steed, but the passenger as well. Finally, a cavalry model is considerably more expensive to field than an equivalent infantry, so it is advisable not to base your whole strategy on this tactic as it will leave you with a very small force.

DEALING WITH CAVALRY
As I've hopefully shown, cavalry are a deadly force on the battlefield and an asset to any commander, but what do you do if you have no cavalry? You may be playing a thematic force and may not have access to cavalry, or you may simply be playing a scenario that does not permit you to field it. If that's the case, then don't panic – there are a few simple things you can do to make life more difficult for your four-legged opponents.

Need an effective way to halt cavalry? There is none better than a trusty bow and arrow!

USE YOUR TERRAIN
Solid advice regardless of your enemy – or indeed the composition of their force – is to use the terrain available to your advantage as best as possible. Against cavalry though, this takes on a wider perspective. Cavalry models do not operate well in difficult terrain. Because the rider has to dismount and lead the horse when the cavalry piece moves into difficult terrain, it is reduced to half of the rider's Move rate. By giving your opponent the choice of taking either the long way around, or a slow haul though undergrowth, you can use difficult terrain to shield vulnerable warriors from the threat of cavalry.

COUNTERCHARGE
One key point about a cavalry charge is that the effects of it can be countered if the initial charger is countercharged by another cavalry model. With the bonuses for cavalry versus infantry removed, your warriors are then effectively fighting another infantry model (albeit with a larger base). Remember though that a countercharge is only effective if it is performed with another cavalry model – infantry will not negate the cavalry bonuses (although there is something to be said for adding more dice to the combat).

SHOOT 'EM
Although it is not necessarily true that a horse has all of the brains of a cavalryman, it does have a good chunk of the mobility. As shooting hits on cavalry are randomised between horse and rider it is often simplicity itself to slay the steed. 'Why should I hope to kill the steed? Surely 'tis better to kill the rider,' I hear you ask. True enough, it is far better to kill the rider. However, steeds generally have a lower Defence than their riders and are therefore more likely to be slain. With the steed taken out of the picture, the rider is reduced to the level of a normal infantryman of the same type. Slower, and without the bonuses that cavalry get, he should be far easier pickings for your troops. Of course, if you kill the rider then it is all to the good, but bear in mind it is a lot easier to neutralise mounted Heroes (such as Aragorn or Boromir) by killing the horse than killing the Hero… As a bonus, a forcibly dismounted warrior has a 1 in 6 chance of falling over, and in combat will count as trapped as long as he remains on the ground (cue evil laughter). Also worth mentioning here is the magical power, Sorcerous Blast. As previously stated, a successful Sorcerous Blast will not only hit the rider, but also the steed and any passenger (on the initial target and any hit by the initial target), making it an ideal tool to prevent the enemy bunching their expensive cavalry together.

AND FINALLY
At the end of the day, cavalry provide an excellent addition to any force and open up a wealth of possibilities. As I've mentioned, don't worry too much if you don't have a way to fit cavalry into your current themed force – just think carefully about how you're going to deal with it. For the rest – may the ground be firm and may your steeds never tire!

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