Editing Cavalry (section)

==Developments 1900–1914==
[[File:Italian cavalry drill.jpg|thumb|Italian cavalry officers practice their horsemanship in 1904 outside Rome]]
At the beginning of the 20th century, all armies still maintained substantial cavalry forces, although there was contention over whether their role should revert to that of mounted infantry (the historic dragoon function). With motorised vehicles and aircraft still under development, horse mounted troops remained the only fully mobile forces available for manoeuvre warfare until 1914.<ref>{{cite book|first=Alan|last=Steele|page=5|title=British Cavalryman versus German Cavalryman|year=2022|publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-4728-4882-6}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
Following the experience of the [[Second Boer War|South African War]] of 1899–1902 (where mounted Boer citizen commandos fighting on foot from cover proved more effective than regular cavalry), the British Army withdrew lances for all but ceremonial purposes and placed a new emphasis on training for dismounted action in 1903. Lances were however readopted for active service in 1912.<ref>{{cite book|first=Alan|last=Steele|pages=18–19|title=British Cavalryman versus German Cavalryman|year=2022|publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-4728-4882-6}}</ref>

===Russia===
In 1882, the Imperial Russian Army converted all its line hussar and lancer regiments to dragoons, with an emphasis on mounted infantry training. In 1910 these regiments reverted to their historic roles, designations and uniforms.<ref>{{cite book|first=Boris|last=Mollo|page=[https://archive.org/details/uniformsofimperi00moll/page/48 48]|title=Uniforms of the Imperial Russian Army|year=1979|publisher=Blandford Press |isbn=0-7137-0920-0|url=https://archive.org/details/uniformsofimperi00moll/page/48}}</ref>

===Germany===
By 1909, official regulations dictating the role of the Imperial German cavalry had been revised to indicate an increasing realization of the realities of modern warfare. The massive cavalry charge in three waves which had previously marked the end of annual maneuvers was discontinued and a new emphasis was placed in training on scouting, raiding and pursuit; rather than main battle involvement.<ref>{{cite book|first=Prit|last=Buttar|page=39|title=Collusion of Empires|date=17 June 2014|publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-78200-648-0}}</ref> The perceived importance of cavalry was however still evident, with thirteen new regiments of mounted rifles (''Jäger zu Pferde'') being raised shortly before the outbreak of war in 1914.<ref>{{cite book|first=John|last=Keegan|page=20|title=The First World War|year=1998|publisher=Hutchinson |isbn=0-09-180178-8}}</ref>

===France===
In spite of significant experience in mounted warfare in Morocco during 1908–14, the French cavalry remained a highly conservative institution.<ref>David Woodward, p. 47 "Armies of the World 1854–1914",SBN=399-12252-4</ref> The traditional tactical distinctions between heavy, medium, and light cavalry branches were retained.<ref>p. 570, Volume 5, ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' – 11th edition.</ref> French cuirassiers wore breastplates and plumed helmets unchanged from the Napoleonic period, during the early months of World War I.<ref>Louis Delperier, pp. 60-70 "Les Cuirassiers 1845–1918", Argout-Editions Paris 1981</ref> Dragoons were similarly equipped, though they did not wear cuirasses and did carry lances.<ref>{{cite book|first=Andre|last=Jouineau|pages=24–25|title=The French Army 1914|year=2008|publisher=Amber Books Limited |isbn=978-2-35250-104-6}}</ref> Light cavalry were described as being "a blaze of colour". French cavalry of all branches were well mounted and were trained to change position and charge at full gallop.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Terraine|page=57|title=Mons Retreat to Victory |date=October 2002|publisher=Wordsworth Editions |isbn=1-84022-243-3}}</ref> One weakness in training was that French cavalrymen seldom dismounted on the march and their horses suffered heavily from raw backs in August 1914.<ref>{{cite book|first=John|last=Keegan|page=102|title=The First World War|year=1998|publisher=Hutchinson |isbn=0-09-180178-8}}</ref>