A load of pony!

MIGHTY medieval warhorses like those seen in movies such as The Last Duel starring Matt Damon, left, are a bit of a myth, according to boffins.

Researchers studying their bones have discovered that knights’ chargers often stood less than 14.2 hands high – which would class them as ponies.

But it’s not the only wrong impression many of us have about the Middle Ages. Here JAMES MOORE busts some more myths from the era…

LOAD OF RUBBISH: In the classic 1944 movie Henry V, Sir Laurence Olivier, below, stars as the battling king who has to be lifted on to a horse because of the weight of his armour. But this is a fairytale, say experts. In fact, researchers in Switzerland found that armour worn by knights from the time was evenly distributed, allowing for a full range of motion and was no heavier than the typical load of a modern soldier.