Multiple Cavalry Melees - some observations

[Eckerslyke]

Now that the dust has settled and several points of view have been put forward, I think I am in a better position to suggest some viable house rules to my potential opponents who may not wish to dispense entirely with the Multiple Cavalry Melee rule.

So, here are some possible elements of a house rule which seem to make sense to me if the Multiple Cavalry Charge rule is set ON:

1. A charging cavalry unit may make one follow-up melee on the same unit (of any type).

(This recognizes that it is reasonable to expect a target unit to have to cope with continued pressure from a charging cavalry unit (which is entitled to have a second melee), whilst staying within a realistic amount of activity for a single phase. Without the rule set to ON, a second melee would not be possible against an infantry unit, which might lead to a charge being blocked unrealistically, with more momentum still in hand but with no means to use it.)

2. A cavalry unit which has already been the target of a melee may be melee'd again, up to an agreed limit.

(An upper limit would prevent the occurrence of an unrealistic number of melees which would take the target unit beyond the amount of activity which it could be expected to perform within a single phase. I would suggest that only one secondary melee be permitted.)

3. Any secondary melee can only be initiated by a squadron, not a formed unit.

(We are accustomed to the cavalry in this period being highly disciplined. I feel it is unrealistic that a formed cavalry unit would decide, on its own initiative, to charge and take advantage of a situation which had only just developed during the current phase as a result of the unexpected appearance of a fugitive enemy cavalry unit within a hex which the attacking unit could reach.

A squadron, however, could feel more justified in grabbing any opportunity which may arise, since the implication is that the nature of the squadron gives it more autonomy to make spur-of-the-moment decisions.

Question - Is there any justification for extending the right of secondary melee to formed cossack units? Were they less disciplined than other types of cavalry?)

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Thanks to everyone who came forward with ideas, clarifications and corrections which brought me to this point in my understanding, especially KG_RangerBooBoo and mfriedman421.
Disliking the rule as it stood, I faced the prospect of not being able to entice anyone out onto the battlefield unless I gave in to something which simply did not make sense to me as a realistic way of conducting cavalry melees. As a result of the immensely helpful input I received, I feel I can now be a bit more flexible during the pre-battle negotiations over optional rules.