I think it was mentioned somewhere on the first page about Earth Ponies going into melee, using a helm with an iron horn mounted unicorn style. If not, yay, firsties. But bam, every Earth Pony is now a jouster. Let's talk about biology for a second. Like most herbivores, a horse's eyes are on the side of the head. We know this. This offers close to, if not 360 degree field of vision. I know there's a blind spot directly behind them. So suddenly a sword (or horn) fight between two ponies has changed dramatically. Swinging that sword around no longer means I can't see my opponent. In fact, unless he's right behind me, I see him just fine. Finally, http://www.whmentors.org/saf/kick.html A good swift kick from a horse's back legs could take someone's head clean off. I bet as people were trained to box with their hands, ponies are trained to Cow Kick. Heck, the thighs on Apple Jack pack enough wallop to knock every apple off a tree.