Training and loading methods of a British Army remount squadron in Egypt, probably 1917.

The squadron exists to train fresh horses and mules for British Army war service. The horses are taught to keep at a steady walk in formation when other horses are galloping past at an angle. Various manoeuvres of a squadron in column of troops (according to the 1912 Cavalry Training Manual). Horses and large mules being taught to get up and down a steep embankment with a rider, and horses being exercised in the shallows of the sea. There is a brief shot of horses drinking from a trough, then a sequence of a large herd of mules "being taught to play follow the leader" at a gallop behind a single horseman. There follows "breaking obstinate animals" in a menage, both to the saddle and to pull a wagon, teaching mules to jump low walls and fences while being ridden, a general inspection, and the squadron loading horses onto a transport train, ending with a message held up to the camera on a board, "44th Remount Squadron, loading 100 horses, time 2 minutes 32 seconds".

Notes

Summary: nothing can be found out about this film, and it is possibly not British official film at all. See IWM 634 for a different use of the same scenes.

Remarks: the film is badly edited in parts but the sequence showing the squadron drilling is both interesting and impressive.