[Ainaserkewen]

I think that the pikes the orcs had were a good defense against the Riders, especially in the situation at Helm's Deep, and should have wreaked much more havoc than they did. To combat a sword, you need something longer, and since the horses were not armored, killing them certainly had first priority and should have been more effective than it actually was.

Pull a Braveheart, eh Estelyn? That'll do.