British cavalry tests horses for battlefield patrols

The British Army has been experimenting with the use of horses for reconnaissance, patrol and security tasks in terrain where military vehicles may struggle to operate, according to imagery released by the Ministry of Defence.

Soldiers and Military Working Horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment took part in a mounted combat capability experiment on the Barossa training area at Sandhurst, exploring how mounted troops could support battlefield activity beyond the Regiment’s familiar ceremonial duties.

The training was conducted across difficult terrain and focused on environments where conventional vehicles could face restrictions, giving soldiers an opportunity to examine how horses might provide an alternative means of moving personnel during reconnaissance and security operations.

Images from the exercise show Household Cavalry soldiers conducting mounted patrols in pairs while using the SA80 sighting system to locate and track simulated enemy positions. The experiment focused on reconnaissance, patrol and security roles, with troops required to operate from horseback while maintaining observation of the surrounding terrain and identifying potential enemy activity.

The use of horses gives mounted personnel a different mobility profile from troops operating in vehicles, particularly across ground where access routes may be narrow, broken or otherwise unsuitable for conventional platforms. The Sandhurst activity was specifically intended to examine their use in such environments rather than establish a new Army-wide mounted combat role.

According to the MOD caption accompanying the imagery, the activity drew on lessons from international partners while exploring how mounted troops could contribute to patrol and security missions.

Military horses have historically been used for reconnaissance, transport and mounted patrols, although mechanisation removed them from most frontline roles during the 20th century. The Sandhurst experiment examined whether some of those characteristics could still have relevance in specific modern operating environments where access, terrain and mobility create problems for vehicles.

The mounted patrol serial took place on 23 September at the Barossa training area, with soldiers and horses working together to test reconnaissance and security techniques in terrain selected to challenge conventional movement.