I would have to agree with Gabriella that those do look like good steppe horses
they are squat and have more endurance than the bigger chargers uses for most European knights.
So therefore after initial annoyance, and after I realized they are supposed to be Russians. Then the fact that they use steppe ponies makes totally sense, since of course any good historian knows that Russia is on the steppe (i am historian by trade incidentally.)
And for those who don't know, the steppe is the huge grass plain that stretches from the Ukraine all the way to Mongolia, quite an awesome piece of geography. It is prime horse archer land historically speaking.
Oh also Illwinter, thank you again for such an amazing nation!
I really enjoy the thematic feel of this nation and all nations.