# Hannibal crossing the Alps

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-crossing-the-alps/790617>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 6, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-crossing-the-alps/790617 "2017-07-06T15:59:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hannibal-crossing-the-alps/790617/61 "2017-08-09T06:04:08Z")

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> [@Hector\_St\_Clare](#):
>
> How would even the best training override the elephant’s instinctive response to stampede when it’s in pain / burning? That seems hard to imagine- what is the rider supposed to do in such a case?
> 
> Unlike tanks, an elephant has a mind of its own, which seems like it would make it particularly unpredictable in a way that a tank isn’t.

The rider will do the same as a horseman will do when his horse is spoiled, be fucked. War Elephants were specially captured when young and trained. Only ones which did not startle easily became War Elephants. Or do you think horses don’t have to be trained for battle and are not skittish?

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