Would it be feasible to have a wolf as a mount?
$begingroup$
On my fantasy planet, humanoid peoples are at war and ride different animals into battle, including wolves. People and their wolves are, for all intents and purposes, extremely similar to humans and earth wolves. Could this physically be possible? Can a wolf support a weight similar to a human's?
reality-check warfare
New contributor
$endgroup$
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
On my fantasy planet, humanoid peoples are at war and ride different animals into battle, including wolves. People and their wolves are, for all intents and purposes, extremely similar to humans and earth wolves. Could this physically be possible? Can a wolf support a weight similar to a human's?
reality-check warfare
New contributor
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
how big are the wolfs? how much do they weigh? if its a normal size wolf then no, but if its massive then maybe. devil is in the details. also why not just use them like sled dogs we use them like that already
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Are your humans and wolfs similar to Earth's.. weight and size?
$endgroup$
– Artemijs Danilovs
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Now hear me out instead of riding them or using wolf sleds... WOLF CHARIOTS genius
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Possible duplicate: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/129446/…
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
2 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Search Google " Why we can't ride dogs". Apparently dogs can be severely harmed when children ride them since they are made for flexibility not burdens. These animals have to be larger than a horse is for them to not be harmed. Horses also require shoes when they became beasts of burden. I can't imagine how tough it must be on a wolf's paw when there is the weight of a rider pressing down on them.
$endgroup$
– Lonha
36 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
On my fantasy planet, humanoid peoples are at war and ride different animals into battle, including wolves. People and their wolves are, for all intents and purposes, extremely similar to humans and earth wolves. Could this physically be possible? Can a wolf support a weight similar to a human's?
reality-check warfare
New contributor
$endgroup$
On my fantasy planet, humanoid peoples are at war and ride different animals into battle, including wolves. People and their wolves are, for all intents and purposes, extremely similar to humans and earth wolves. Could this physically be possible? Can a wolf support a weight similar to a human's?
reality-check warfare
reality-check warfare
New contributor
New contributor
edited 2 hours ago
rek
6,6951552
6,6951552
New contributor
asked 3 hours ago
weakdnaweakdna
1113
1113
New contributor
New contributor
2
$begingroup$
how big are the wolfs? how much do they weigh? if its a normal size wolf then no, but if its massive then maybe. devil is in the details. also why not just use them like sled dogs we use them like that already
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Are your humans and wolfs similar to Earth's.. weight and size?
$endgroup$
– Artemijs Danilovs
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Now hear me out instead of riding them or using wolf sleds... WOLF CHARIOTS genius
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Possible duplicate: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/129446/…
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
2 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Search Google " Why we can't ride dogs". Apparently dogs can be severely harmed when children ride them since they are made for flexibility not burdens. These animals have to be larger than a horse is for them to not be harmed. Horses also require shoes when they became beasts of burden. I can't imagine how tough it must be on a wolf's paw when there is the weight of a rider pressing down on them.
$endgroup$
– Lonha
36 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
2
$begingroup$
how big are the wolfs? how much do they weigh? if its a normal size wolf then no, but if its massive then maybe. devil is in the details. also why not just use them like sled dogs we use them like that already
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Are your humans and wolfs similar to Earth's.. weight and size?
$endgroup$
– Artemijs Danilovs
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Now hear me out instead of riding them or using wolf sleds... WOLF CHARIOTS genius
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Possible duplicate: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/129446/…
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
2 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Search Google " Why we can't ride dogs". Apparently dogs can be severely harmed when children ride them since they are made for flexibility not burdens. These animals have to be larger than a horse is for them to not be harmed. Horses also require shoes when they became beasts of burden. I can't imagine how tough it must be on a wolf's paw when there is the weight of a rider pressing down on them.
$endgroup$
– Lonha
36 mins ago
2
2
$begingroup$
how big are the wolfs? how much do they weigh? if its a normal size wolf then no, but if its massive then maybe. devil is in the details. also why not just use them like sled dogs we use them like that already
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
how big are the wolfs? how much do they weigh? if its a normal size wolf then no, but if its massive then maybe. devil is in the details. also why not just use them like sled dogs we use them like that already
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Are your humans and wolfs similar to Earth's.. weight and size?
$endgroup$
– Artemijs Danilovs
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Are your humans and wolfs similar to Earth's.. weight and size?
$endgroup$
– Artemijs Danilovs
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Now hear me out instead of riding them or using wolf sleds... WOLF CHARIOTS genius
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Now hear me out instead of riding them or using wolf sleds... WOLF CHARIOTS genius
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Possible duplicate: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/129446/…
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Possible duplicate: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/129446/…
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
2 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
Search Google " Why we can't ride dogs". Apparently dogs can be severely harmed when children ride them since they are made for flexibility not burdens. These animals have to be larger than a horse is for them to not be harmed. Horses also require shoes when they became beasts of burden. I can't imagine how tough it must be on a wolf's paw when there is the weight of a rider pressing down on them.
$endgroup$
– Lonha
36 mins ago
$begingroup$
Search Google " Why we can't ride dogs". Apparently dogs can be severely harmed when children ride them since they are made for flexibility not burdens. These animals have to be larger than a horse is for them to not be harmed. Horses also require shoes when they became beasts of burden. I can't imagine how tough it must be on a wolf's paw when there is the weight of a rider pressing down on them.
$endgroup$
– Lonha
36 mins ago
|
show 2 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
No. Wolves are not strong or large enough for a human to ride. If you increased it to the size of a horse, then you have something that could be rideable.
Plus, it would look super weird, if you on a mount that was essential the same height as most tables.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Just imagined someone riding a dog. Looks super hilarious.
$endgroup$
– SlothsAndMe
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Another point to note other than the optics is that it would actually put a foot soldier at a tactical disadvantage; one of the reasons that we adapted to walk on two legs was to increase our height, and get a better vantage point when looking around. Sitting on a dog is not only weird, but would mean the soldier couldn't see as much of the battlefield or incoming attacks or even ambushes.
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It depends on your world-building to make it work, for the Earth it's not feasible.
How it goes on planet Earth and Earth's wolfs.
Most carry-animals work with weights around 10-30% of their body-mass. Cavalry regulations I know of were: below 20-25% body-mass be it war-horses or other pack-animals.
Modern record-worthy wolfs are 80-105 kg with half that for an average specimens.
Biggest ancient ones had an average body-mass at 60-80 kg with a limit at 110-120 kg.
Even if you are super generous with making them extra strong and sturdy and point out, that smaller animals have better strength and sturdiness to mass ratio. Best you can hope from your wolf is 40-50% body mass, under conditions, that modern laws would consider torture.
With a 40-50 kg limit for the rider and equipment mass... I won't comment on how someone with no regard for war-laws and humane values could make it work on Earth if he had packs of biggest extinct wolfs...
To make it work we can do some world-building.
Adjust size and weight of your wolfs and humans, so that you are in 20-30% range. Liger-sized wolfs sure would make enemy cavalry have a few complains...
As extra help you can play with your planet, for example, you can have an Earth-like world with 70% Earths gravity.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Unlikely. The largest wolves – the extinct dire wolf, or the modern canis lupus occidentalis/Canadian timber wolf – are comparable in size to the average human, but weigh less than a human rider (before being loaded out with weapons and armour).
That said, if you were to enlarge your wolves and/or reduce the size and weight of your humans it wouldn't be difficult to justify the relationship.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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active
oldest
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3 Answers
3
active
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$begingroup$
No. Wolves are not strong or large enough for a human to ride. If you increased it to the size of a horse, then you have something that could be rideable.
Plus, it would look super weird, if you on a mount that was essential the same height as most tables.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Just imagined someone riding a dog. Looks super hilarious.
$endgroup$
– SlothsAndMe
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Another point to note other than the optics is that it would actually put a foot soldier at a tactical disadvantage; one of the reasons that we adapted to walk on two legs was to increase our height, and get a better vantage point when looking around. Sitting on a dog is not only weird, but would mean the soldier couldn't see as much of the battlefield or incoming attacks or even ambushes.
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No. Wolves are not strong or large enough for a human to ride. If you increased it to the size of a horse, then you have something that could be rideable.
Plus, it would look super weird, if you on a mount that was essential the same height as most tables.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Just imagined someone riding a dog. Looks super hilarious.
$endgroup$
– SlothsAndMe
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Another point to note other than the optics is that it would actually put a foot soldier at a tactical disadvantage; one of the reasons that we adapted to walk on two legs was to increase our height, and get a better vantage point when looking around. Sitting on a dog is not only weird, but would mean the soldier couldn't see as much of the battlefield or incoming attacks or even ambushes.
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No. Wolves are not strong or large enough for a human to ride. If you increased it to the size of a horse, then you have something that could be rideable.
Plus, it would look super weird, if you on a mount that was essential the same height as most tables.
$endgroup$
No. Wolves are not strong or large enough for a human to ride. If you increased it to the size of a horse, then you have something that could be rideable.
Plus, it would look super weird, if you on a mount that was essential the same height as most tables.
answered 2 hours ago
ShadowzeeShadowzee
8,4251440
8,4251440
1
$begingroup$
Just imagined someone riding a dog. Looks super hilarious.
$endgroup$
– SlothsAndMe
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Another point to note other than the optics is that it would actually put a foot soldier at a tactical disadvantage; one of the reasons that we adapted to walk on two legs was to increase our height, and get a better vantage point when looking around. Sitting on a dog is not only weird, but would mean the soldier couldn't see as much of the battlefield or incoming attacks or even ambushes.
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Just imagined someone riding a dog. Looks super hilarious.
$endgroup$
– SlothsAndMe
2 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Another point to note other than the optics is that it would actually put a foot soldier at a tactical disadvantage; one of the reasons that we adapted to walk on two legs was to increase our height, and get a better vantage point when looking around. Sitting on a dog is not only weird, but would mean the soldier couldn't see as much of the battlefield or incoming attacks or even ambushes.
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
2 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Just imagined someone riding a dog. Looks super hilarious.
$endgroup$
– SlothsAndMe
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Just imagined someone riding a dog. Looks super hilarious.
$endgroup$
– SlothsAndMe
2 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Another point to note other than the optics is that it would actually put a foot soldier at a tactical disadvantage; one of the reasons that we adapted to walk on two legs was to increase our height, and get a better vantage point when looking around. Sitting on a dog is not only weird, but would mean the soldier couldn't see as much of the battlefield or incoming attacks or even ambushes.
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Another point to note other than the optics is that it would actually put a foot soldier at a tactical disadvantage; one of the reasons that we adapted to walk on two legs was to increase our height, and get a better vantage point when looking around. Sitting on a dog is not only weird, but would mean the soldier couldn't see as much of the battlefield or incoming attacks or even ambushes.
$endgroup$
– Tim B II
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It depends on your world-building to make it work, for the Earth it's not feasible.
How it goes on planet Earth and Earth's wolfs.
Most carry-animals work with weights around 10-30% of their body-mass. Cavalry regulations I know of were: below 20-25% body-mass be it war-horses or other pack-animals.
Modern record-worthy wolfs are 80-105 kg with half that for an average specimens.
Biggest ancient ones had an average body-mass at 60-80 kg with a limit at 110-120 kg.
Even if you are super generous with making them extra strong and sturdy and point out, that smaller animals have better strength and sturdiness to mass ratio. Best you can hope from your wolf is 40-50% body mass, under conditions, that modern laws would consider torture.
With a 40-50 kg limit for the rider and equipment mass... I won't comment on how someone with no regard for war-laws and humane values could make it work on Earth if he had packs of biggest extinct wolfs...
To make it work we can do some world-building.
Adjust size and weight of your wolfs and humans, so that you are in 20-30% range. Liger-sized wolfs sure would make enemy cavalry have a few complains...
As extra help you can play with your planet, for example, you can have an Earth-like world with 70% Earths gravity.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It depends on your world-building to make it work, for the Earth it's not feasible.
How it goes on planet Earth and Earth's wolfs.
Most carry-animals work with weights around 10-30% of their body-mass. Cavalry regulations I know of were: below 20-25% body-mass be it war-horses or other pack-animals.
Modern record-worthy wolfs are 80-105 kg with half that for an average specimens.
Biggest ancient ones had an average body-mass at 60-80 kg with a limit at 110-120 kg.
Even if you are super generous with making them extra strong and sturdy and point out, that smaller animals have better strength and sturdiness to mass ratio. Best you can hope from your wolf is 40-50% body mass, under conditions, that modern laws would consider torture.
With a 40-50 kg limit for the rider and equipment mass... I won't comment on how someone with no regard for war-laws and humane values could make it work on Earth if he had packs of biggest extinct wolfs...
To make it work we can do some world-building.
Adjust size and weight of your wolfs and humans, so that you are in 20-30% range. Liger-sized wolfs sure would make enemy cavalry have a few complains...
As extra help you can play with your planet, for example, you can have an Earth-like world with 70% Earths gravity.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
It depends on your world-building to make it work, for the Earth it's not feasible.
How it goes on planet Earth and Earth's wolfs.
Most carry-animals work with weights around 10-30% of their body-mass. Cavalry regulations I know of were: below 20-25% body-mass be it war-horses or other pack-animals.
Modern record-worthy wolfs are 80-105 kg with half that for an average specimens.
Biggest ancient ones had an average body-mass at 60-80 kg with a limit at 110-120 kg.
Even if you are super generous with making them extra strong and sturdy and point out, that smaller animals have better strength and sturdiness to mass ratio. Best you can hope from your wolf is 40-50% body mass, under conditions, that modern laws would consider torture.
With a 40-50 kg limit for the rider and equipment mass... I won't comment on how someone with no regard for war-laws and humane values could make it work on Earth if he had packs of biggest extinct wolfs...
To make it work we can do some world-building.
Adjust size and weight of your wolfs and humans, so that you are in 20-30% range. Liger-sized wolfs sure would make enemy cavalry have a few complains...
As extra help you can play with your planet, for example, you can have an Earth-like world with 70% Earths gravity.
$endgroup$
It depends on your world-building to make it work, for the Earth it's not feasible.
How it goes on planet Earth and Earth's wolfs.
Most carry-animals work with weights around 10-30% of their body-mass. Cavalry regulations I know of were: below 20-25% body-mass be it war-horses or other pack-animals.
Modern record-worthy wolfs are 80-105 kg with half that for an average specimens.
Biggest ancient ones had an average body-mass at 60-80 kg with a limit at 110-120 kg.
Even if you are super generous with making them extra strong and sturdy and point out, that smaller animals have better strength and sturdiness to mass ratio. Best you can hope from your wolf is 40-50% body mass, under conditions, that modern laws would consider torture.
With a 40-50 kg limit for the rider and equipment mass... I won't comment on how someone with no regard for war-laws and humane values could make it work on Earth if he had packs of biggest extinct wolfs...
To make it work we can do some world-building.
Adjust size and weight of your wolfs and humans, so that you are in 20-30% range. Liger-sized wolfs sure would make enemy cavalry have a few complains...
As extra help you can play with your planet, for example, you can have an Earth-like world with 70% Earths gravity.
answered 1 hour ago
Artemijs DanilovsArtemijs Danilovs
1,714113
1,714113
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Unlikely. The largest wolves – the extinct dire wolf, or the modern canis lupus occidentalis/Canadian timber wolf – are comparable in size to the average human, but weigh less than a human rider (before being loaded out with weapons and armour).
That said, if you were to enlarge your wolves and/or reduce the size and weight of your humans it wouldn't be difficult to justify the relationship.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Unlikely. The largest wolves – the extinct dire wolf, or the modern canis lupus occidentalis/Canadian timber wolf – are comparable in size to the average human, but weigh less than a human rider (before being loaded out with weapons and armour).
That said, if you were to enlarge your wolves and/or reduce the size and weight of your humans it wouldn't be difficult to justify the relationship.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Unlikely. The largest wolves – the extinct dire wolf, or the modern canis lupus occidentalis/Canadian timber wolf – are comparable in size to the average human, but weigh less than a human rider (before being loaded out with weapons and armour).
That said, if you were to enlarge your wolves and/or reduce the size and weight of your humans it wouldn't be difficult to justify the relationship.
$endgroup$
Unlikely. The largest wolves – the extinct dire wolf, or the modern canis lupus occidentalis/Canadian timber wolf – are comparable in size to the average human, but weigh less than a human rider (before being loaded out with weapons and armour).
That said, if you were to enlarge your wolves and/or reduce the size and weight of your humans it wouldn't be difficult to justify the relationship.
edited 28 mins ago
answered 2 hours ago
rekrek
6,6951552
6,6951552
add a comment |
add a comment |
weakdna is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
weakdna is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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2
$begingroup$
how big are the wolfs? how much do they weigh? if its a normal size wolf then no, but if its massive then maybe. devil is in the details. also why not just use them like sled dogs we use them like that already
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Are your humans and wolfs similar to Earth's.. weight and size?
$endgroup$
– Artemijs Danilovs
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Now hear me out instead of riding them or using wolf sleds... WOLF CHARIOTS genius
$endgroup$
– Creed Arcon
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
Possible duplicate: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/129446/…
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
2 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
Search Google " Why we can't ride dogs". Apparently dogs can be severely harmed when children ride them since they are made for flexibility not burdens. These animals have to be larger than a horse is for them to not be harmed. Horses also require shoes when they became beasts of burden. I can't imagine how tough it must be on a wolf's paw when there is the weight of a rider pressing down on them.
$endgroup$
– Lonha
36 mins ago