Does anyone know how long it took to train a cavalry man in Rome in the 3rd century B.C.E.? I'm trying to understand why The Senate in 216, though they came up with a huge number of infantry, did not provide adequate cavalry to the two consular armies. Hannibal's victories at Trebia and Ticinus were both due to superior cavalry outflanking The Roman Legions. The senate knew that. With the losses at Lake Trasimene only a year before were they unable to provide proper cavalry?