Before the rise of Macedonian dominance, typical horsemen carried a javelin, a sword, boots, a breasplate, and a helmet.
He also equipped many of his cavalry men with sarissas, indicating a change from the usual ranged nature of cavalry to that of a “heavy cavalry” which is meant to break into enemy lines. Alexander used his cavalry forces, including his Companion Cavalry, and his phalanxes together as a cohesive and devastating war machine. It was not until the time of Philip II and Alexander that cavalry became a critical part of Greek military. The requisite costs associated with horse ownership and breeding as well as the necessity of suitable land for the horses presented barriers preventing many Greek cities from having substantial cavalry units. By the end of the fifth century, both Athens and Sparta also formed their own cavalry. Cavalry was rarely seen in the Greek world during the Classical period: Macedonia, Thessaly, and Boeotia were the only places known for having genuine cavalry forces.
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