The training of animals for military purposes, particularly horses and mules, was a critical aspect of preparation before and during World War I. The methods and duration of training varied significantly depending on the animal’s intended role, whether for cavalry, general riding, or as draft and pack animals. While the U.S. Army possessed rigorous training programs, the extreme pressures of wartime sometimes necessitated deviations from established standards.
Cavalry Horse Training: A Two-Year Progression
The U.S. Army Cavalry Drill Regulations of 1916 outlined an extensive, two-year training program for both horses and riders. This program drew heavily from French cavalry manuals, specifically those from the Saumur cavalry school. The training was designed to progressively develop a young horse into a capable cavalry mount.
The Horse’s First Year: Foundational Skills
The first year of training was divided into three distinct phases, focusing on foundational skills.
Phase 1: Unmounted Work: This initial stage focused on the basics of being a military horse. It included leading, or “ponying,” where a horse is led by a rider on another horse; “longeing,” working in circles on a long line while responding to voice commands; accustoming the horse to saddling; and the first mounting. Training also involved preparing the horse to accept the flapping of a sabre scabbard against its side. This phase emphasized positive reinforcement, with work interspersed with rests and caresses.
Phase 2: Preliminary Mounted Work: This phase involved extensive mounted work, both indoors and outdoors, with outdoor training being preferred. The presence of older, experienced horses was found to be beneficial for young remounts. Training emphasized responsiveness to the rider’s aids (legs and reins) for forward movement, steering, and changes in gait. Exercises like serpentines, figures of eight, and backing were introduced. Conditioning began to prepare the horses for the demands of cavalry service, with the goal of achieving a gallop of one mile in five minutes and marching ten miles in two hours. One day a week was dedicated to familiarizing the horse with the sights and sounds of the cavalry troop, including firearms, sabres, and marching formations.
Phase 3: Advanced First-Year Training: The third period continued to build upon the skills acquired. Horses engaged in longer outdoor rides, including work over varied terrain to improve conditioning. Training focused on more precise obedience to aids, smoother transitions between gaits and directions, and developing lightness on the bit and hindquarter engagement for agile maneuvers. Horses were also introduced to jumping, initially in a chute and on the longe, gradually increasing the height. They were led over various obstacles and familiarized with carrying a rider and equipment. By the end of this phase, horses were expected to be able to gallop two miles in eight minutes and march fifteen miles in three hours with full field equipment. Training also included carrying double, swimming, and becoming accustomed to pistol fire and sabre practice.
The Horse’s Second Year: Refinement and Sophistication
The fourth period, spanning the entire second year, transformed a serviceable mount into a highly sophisticated cavalry horse. This stage focused on refining existing skills, enhancing responsiveness, and improving gaits, maneuverability, suppleness, and agility. The use of a double bridle, incorporating a curb bit, allowed for greater subtlety in signaling but required a skilled rider to avoid causing pain or evasion. The regulations stressed the importance of a light hand and a well-balanced seat, advising instructors to adjust bits carefully and even revert to a snaffle if necessary.
Advanced training emphasized shoulder mobility, lightness of the forehand, jaw suppleness, and hindquarter engagement. Horses were expected to comfortably jump obstacles up to three feet high or eight feet wide. Galloping three miles in eleven minutes and marching twenty-five miles in four hours with full field equipment were also standard expectations. Significant attention was given to backing, with a caution against overdoing it to prevent evasive behaviors like “falling behind the bit” or “getting behind the leg.”
The selection of riders for remounts was crucial. Troopers were chosen for their love of horses, patience, and gentleness. They needed to be skillful riders themselves, following key principles such as progressing from simple to difficult tasks, using consistent aids, and ensuring correct position before action. A key tenet was to “demand that, but no more” progress each day, recognizing that “a little progress every day should satisfy.”
Officer’s Chargers and Gun Horses: A Less Defined Program
In contrast to the detailed cavalry training, the Quartermaster Corps depots lacked a cohesive program for training officer’s chargers and gun horses. While regulations existed for the practical aspects of driving draft teams, the specifics of animal training were less explicit. The Manual for the Quartermaster Corps, 1916, noted that young horses issued from depots would have received basic handling and weight-carrying preparation. They were expected to undergo a careful course of training under a graduate of the Mounted Service School, or a competent officer, typically for at least one year before being placed in regular military duties. This lack of detailed guidance led many officers to bring their own mounts, which were fed and housed at government expense.
Pack Animal Training: Expertise in Mule Management
Training for pack animals, particularly mules, was meticulously documented in a dedicated manual by Henry W. Daly, chief packer for the Quartermaster Corps. Daly emphasized the mule’s responsiveness to gentle treatment and their instinct to follow a lead animal, often a mare known as the “bell” animal.
Training focused on teaching mules to line up efficiently for loading. Mules were trained to string out behind the bell animal and approach the rigging without bunching. This was facilitated by feeding them at the rigging initially. Packers were instructed to use gentle corrections, such as a small switch, to gain the animals’ attention, stressing that abuse would lead to unruliness. Mules were trained to follow in single file, with packers stroking and calling them by name to build trust.
Daly also described how to encourage an ambling gait, which was efficient for carrying loads. Mules were trained to travel at a steady pace in close order. For those struggling to adopt this gait, adjustments were made to the pack saddle to encourage shorter, quicker steps. The manual provided a comprehensive resource for packing techniques, knot-tying, and mule management, reflecting a deep understanding of these vital military assets.
