Young boys could join the Facist Youth - called Balilla - where they drilled with a miniature version of the cavalry carbine. When the age of 17 or so was attained, the boys then drilled with and became familiar with actual cavalry carbines. The boys were given 7,35 caliber moschettos that had been removed from service due to ammunition logistics problems.
As an aside, children could join the Balilla as young as FOUR years old!
