[expand]The Baltic cavalry employed specific tactics exploiting mobility advantages:
The harassment raids avoided direct engagement—small mounted groups struck vulnerable targets, caused damage or captured livestock, withdrew before defenders could organize effective response. These raids served multiple purposes: they generated economic pressure depleting enemy resources, they maintained psychological initiative keeping opponents in defensive posture, they provided combat experience training warriors without risking catastrophic defeat.
The feigned retreat was sophisticated maneuver—the cavalry appeared to flee drawing pursuing enemies into disadvantageous positions, the apparent retreat lured opponents away from defensive positions or separated them from supporting forces, the sudden reversal caught disorganized pursuers vulnerable to counterattack. This tactic required discipline and coordination—the warriors had to resist natural impulse to genuinely flee, had to maintain formation during apparent retreat, had to execute reversal with precise timing exploiting created vulnerability.
The ambush exploitation used terrain knowledge—the cavalry hid in forests or behind terrain features, allowed enemies to pass creating exposure, struck from unexpected directions against unprepared opponents. The ambush effectiveness depended on intelligence about enemy movements, patience waiting for optimal moment, rapid decisive action before victims could organize defense.
The skirmishing tactics avoided sustained combat—the cavalry approached within missile range, discharged arrows or javelins at enemies, withdrew before close engagement could develop. These harassing attacks caused cumulative casualties and demoralization without risking decisive defeat, the repeated strikes exhausted defenders maintaining constant vigilance, the mobility allowed attackers to disengage when local force ratios became unfavorable.
The pursuit operations capitalized on enemy defeats—when opponents broke and ran, the cavalry could chase fleeing forces inflicting additional casualties, the mounted warriors could overtake foot soldiers attempting escape, the pursuit converted defensive victories into complete routs eliminating enemy forces rather than merely repelling attacks. This pursuit capability made defensive successes more decisive by preventing defeated enemies from regrouping.
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