Did soldiers try to kill the enemy horses first to dismount the soldier?

by matstar862

Was watching a film and noticed that they where just trying to hit each other and it made me think if they just didn't bother back in sword fighting times.

I know films are not factually correct ofcourse but figured i would ask.

throwthetrash15

That was what the long blades of two-handed swords were for (cleave through a horse's legs). Halberds and the like were used to take out the rider or the trip the legs of the horse and then swing down on them.