“If the terrain demands it, the cavalry will be ready”.
This is the message from the British Army, as it explains why it is “bringing back the war horse”.
Inspired by a new initiative in Estonia, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment added a mounted navigation exercise to its annual Princess Elizabeth Cup competition, an event that evaluates state ceremonial turnout and riding ability.
“For hundreds of years, horses and soldiers were inseparable,” an Army spokesperson said.
“From ancient battlefields to the muddy trenches of the First World War, the cavalry charged into history together. Then came tanks, armoured vehicles and helicopters – and horses were left behind.
“But here’s the thing: they might be making a comeback.”
In Estonia, a group of volunteers including former soldiers have formed a mounted unit in the Estonian defence league.
“Their idea is simple but bold: in thick forests and boggy ground where heavy military vehicles get stuck, horses can go anywhere,” the spokesperson said.
“Estonia’s army uses some seriously impressive kit; Swedish armoured fighting vehicles and Finnish all-terrain carriers. But this volunteer group believes that sometimes the oldest solution is the smartest one.
“After testing their idea on exercises in southern Estonia, they say horses can outperform armoured vehicles in certain tough terrains. It sounds mad. But the British Army was listening.
“Inspired by the Estonian experiment, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment recently added something brand new to their annual Princess Elizabeth Cup competition: a mounted navigation exercise.”
Soldiers had to navigate, on horses, across the “challenging terrain” of Barossa training area, at the the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, with only compasses and maps.
“It was pretty rough at the start trying to find my bearings,” said 21-year-old Trooper Newell. “It’s a completely different experience being mounted on a horse. There was thick gorse, deep mud and dense woodland.
“The horses loved it, but navigating with just a map and a compass in that terrain was tough.”
“The 77-year-old Princess Elizabeth Cup competition has been updated to reflect what the modern army actually needs,” the spokesperson said. “Soldiers are now tested on fitness, marksmanship, navigation and combat resilience – not just their riding and ceremonial skills.
“Nobody is suggesting cavalry horses will replace tanks. But pack animals have already been used by allied forces in the mountains of Afghanistan and in the Balkans in recent times. The lesson from Ukraine and the Middle East is clear: modern warfare demands creativity, adaptability and, sometimes, going back to basics. If the terrain demands it, the cavalry will be ready.”
- To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2026, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also be interested in:
‘Lovely to see them galloping’: Household Cavalry and Kings Troop horses enjoy winter holiday
War horses and their evolving role throughout British history
Household Cavalry horse who flew Union Flag for cheering crowds dies aged 30 after happy retirement
The Household Cavalry: its history, the regiments and the famous Cavalry Black horses
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
