Board Thread:Suggestions forum/@comment-27831234-20160706190100/@comment-26172435-20160706194348

A wealthy nation that thrives on trade for so long can only remain safe if its military base has sufficient strength to scare off 'friendly' and less friendly neighbours. To my opinion it is naive, even silly, to assume their military would have been underdeveloped. I would even assume it would outclass that of their neighbours, in quality, not numbers, to have an effective presence, making sure that no neighbouring ambitious warmonger targets them instead of others. So, I agree with forts, and cavalry, and an elite of trained warriors, even a small standing army of them, that can travel light and fast throughout their realm, over well-maintained roads.

More discussion on the above and most specifically on Dorwinion cavalry can be found in this endorsed thread.