re: House of the Dragon S1E3--Official Thread; “Second of His Name”

That scene was ridiculous. Melees could be violent and deaths did occur but the end goal of them was to capture enemy combatants and receive a ransom. This is how knights made money they needed to improve their station aside from plunder received during war. They would never just pointlessly kill each since other not only would they gain nothing from it but this would create blood feuds and destabilize the realm.

Also Daemon striking his opponent's horse would have been seen as shameful and he likely would have had to forfeit the contest.