The British Army has incorporated a mounted navigation exercise into its annual Princess Elizabeth Cup competition, drawing inspiration from an Estonian volunteer group's use of horses in challenging terrain. Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment soldiers navigated rough ground at Sandhurst using only maps and compasses. Officials emphasize adaptability in modern warfare without replacing mechanized units.
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment recently updated the 77-year-old Princess Elizabeth Cup to include a mounted navigation exercise in the Barossa training area at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Soldiers tackled thick gorse, deep mud, and dense woodland on horseback, relying solely on compasses and maps to find their bearings. The competition now tests fitness, marksmanship, navigation, and combat resilience alongside traditional riding and ceremonial skills, according to an Army spokesperson. “If the terrain demands it, the cavalry will be ready,” the spokesperson said, highlighting the event's focus on modern army needs. The change was inspired by a volunteer mounted unit in Estonia's defence league, where former soldiers use horses in thick forests and boggy ground where vehicles struggle. After exercises in southern Estonia, the group found horses outperforming armoured vehicles in certain terrains. “Their idea is simple but bold: in thick forests and boggy ground where heavy military vehicles get stuck, horses can go anywhere,” the spokesperson noted. The British Army referenced historical cavalry roles and recent uses of pack animals by allies in Afghanistan and the Balkans. “Nobody is suggesting cavalry horses will replace tanks,” the spokesperson added, underscoring creativity and adaptability amid lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East. Trooper Newell, 21, described the challenge: “It was pretty rough at the start trying to find my bearings. It’s a completely different experience being mounted on a horse.”
