You are right in some cases about the short ax. However the weapon choice was always dependant on the warrior, cultural input, size and the period of enactment. What period of enactment is the centauress from? She is female and a fairly petite one. How realistic would she look weilding an enormous great sword or a overlarge battle ax? Actuall the ax she has in hand is a horseman belt ax and was used in periods for horse mount calvary to calvary close battle formation. Spears were used to attack infantry defenses/offensives therefore had to be long. Arab and Steppe Horsemen used shorter weapons than say Medieval knights. They were smaller in stature and actually rode "Steppe Ponies or Arabians into battle (which were MUCH smaller than European War Horses) so by the same token , their swords and spears and bows and mauls and axes were shorter and their sheilds smaller as well. However wrong about the horse pose. War horses historically did in fact bite and kick in open battle (especially the Medieval Destriers). Some were so fierce and well trained and disciplined they would attack the foot and infantry on their own when the rider was unsaddled and all would not let another rider mount other then their known knights. Horses rear when excited or frightened or in a case like this, attacked. They also rear to defend and attack. If you notice the fore legs and fetlocks of my character there are shin guards and spike rings in place for just such use. Though a character study and a WIP, In the final render the character is going to be placed in a situation whereby she will be battling one giant character and/or horse mounted enemy amongst some ruins. The creature is supposed to be fierce and therefore defends herself with all she has at her disposal including hooves.