For the nations that made use of the horse as a fast means of transportation, time and space took on a new meaning. Speed determined the time that one needed to traverse a certain distance, and distances themselves were calculated differently than in the past. Things that used to seem far away were now closer, and what was once a day's march became the ride of a few hours. The predatory Huns had the advantage of speed on their side. Their sudden coming and going left their opponents no time to defend themselves. A new way of reckoning time was established. Plans and strategies followed a new beat – the tempo of the horse. These might have been the years when riders realized that, minute for minute, one could achieve more on horseback than on foot - the siren call of efficiency!

Photo by Hardy Holte