Are Flexible Mounted protected

[Ludwig]

Unable to find the rule or specific clarification:
Are flexible mounted in skirmish protected when shot at ?
A specific example would be Arab Mounted Flexible cavalry average/unprotected/long spear.
Are they treated as all skirmish cavalry are when beyond 1 base distance from shooters and thus count as PROTECTED?
Or are flexible cavalry that are costed as unprotected always treated as unprotected
Would anyone with an answer please provide the location in the rules or clarifications for this issue.
I know such cavalry would count as unprotected when formed but am unclear about that point when they are in skirmish.
Thanks and Stay Well during these difficult times
Lenney

[nikgaukroger]

Flexibles can be on one of 2 formations - for cavalry that is Loose or Skirmisher.

Flexibles in Skirmish formation are treated as Skirmishers (SUGs) for all occasions apart from the couple of differences detailed on page 186. There is no exception for when shot at, so when shot at if over 1 BW away shooters do not get a colour upgrade for shooting at Unprotected.