British Army Horses In Drone Warfare

British Army horses are being tested for covert movement through difficult terrain as the military examines their potential in drone warfare.

The British Army is testing whether horses could once again have a role in military operations, this time in response to the challenges created by drone warfare. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment has been carrying out exercises to examine how horses could be used to move soldiers quietly through difficult terrain. The trials are focused particularly on woodland and other areas where conventional military vehicles may be difficult to use or easier to detect.

The renewed interest in horses comes as the Army considers different ways of moving troops while reducing the risk of detection. Unlike military vehicles, horses do not have hot engines producing a significant infra-red signature and can move much more quietly. Their appearance and behaviour in woodland could also make them less obvious to observers using drones.

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Horses Being Tested In Woodland

The Household Cavalry has been using horses in reconnaissance exercises to establish how effectively they can approach an area without being detected. The exercises have included woodland near Sandhurst, where soldiers have tested how close they can get before being spotted.

During one exercise, Lance Corporal Ben Chapman said the horses managed to approach to within 150 metres. He said they were more difficult to detect than expected, although some of the ceremonial brass equipment reflected sunlight and made the soldiers more noticeable. That problem could be addressed as part of the development of the concept.

The horses being used in the exercises had previously been accustomed to ceremonial duties. Soldiers involved in the trials have also received training in first aid and basic farriery as part of the preparations for operating with the animals.

A Possible Advantage Over Military Vehicles

The Army is examining whether horses could provide an advantage in terrain where heavy military vehicles are difficult to operate. An Army spokesman said horses could travel through thick forests and boggy ground where vehicles could become stuck.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ben McNeil said horses could also present a more natural profile in woodland. This could make them more difficult to distinguish from wildlife compared with an armoured vehicle moving through the same environment.

The trials are therefore examining several characteristics of horses, including their ability to move through difficult ground, their relatively low noise levels and their lower infra-red signature. These factors could be particularly significant when drones are being used to search for military activity.

Camouflage Developed For The Horses

The Household Cavalry has also developed a bespoke camouflage covering for a horse. The covering was developed by Household Cavalry soldiers at Longmoor Training Area in Hampshire as part of the experiments.

The camouflage is intended to help conceal the animal during movement. Alongside the covering, the trials are examining how horses and their riders can operate while limiting the signs that could reveal their presence to observers.

The Return Of The War Horse

The British Army's renewed interest in horses represents a return to an animal that was once closely associated with military operations. Horses had been used by soldiers for hundreds of years, including on ancient battlefields and during the First World War.

Their traditional military role declined as tanks, armoured vehicles and helicopters became increasingly important. The latest trials are examining whether horses could have a different purpose in modern warfare rather than simply returning to their former role.

The idea was partly influenced by a group of around a dozen volunteers who established a horse-mounted unit within the Estonian Defence League. Their experience helped prompt consideration of whether horses could provide useful mobility in difficult terrain.

Lessons From Modern Warfare

The Army's interest in horses comes as military forces examine the changing nature of warfare. Developments in Ukraine and the Middle East have contributed to renewed consideration of different ways of operating in environments where detection can happen quickly.

Drones have created particular challenges because they can observe military vehicles from above. The trials are therefore examining whether horses could offer an alternative means of movement in circumstances where vehicles could be easier to detect.

Horses In Modern Combat

There is also a recent example of horses being used by military forces in combat. In Afghanistan in 2001, American special forces used horses while operating alongside local forces against the Taliban.

A 12-man team of Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group's Operational Detachment Alpha 595 travelled on horseback across Afghanistan's rugged terrain. The operation took place only weeks after the September 11 terror attacks and was the first time since 1942 that American troops had ridden horses into combat.

The soldiers involved subsequently became known as the Horse Soldiers. Their experience demonstrated that horses could still be used in challenging modern military conditions.

What The British Army Is Testing

The current British Army trials are focused on whether horses can provide a practical means of moving soldiers through difficult terrain while reducing the likelihood of detection. The exercises are assessing their movement through woodland, their ability to operate where vehicles may struggle and the effectiveness of measures such as camouflage.

The trials also consider the different ways horses can appear to surveillance systems compared with conventional military vehicles. Their quieter movement and lower infra-red signature are among the characteristics being examined in the context of drone warfare.

The Future Of British Army Horses

The British Army is now testing whether an animal once central to military transport could have a useful role in modern operations. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's exercises are exploring how horses could be used for movement and reconnaissance in difficult terrain where conventional vehicles may present greater challenges.

The British Army horses taking part in these trials are therefore being examined not as a return to the past, but as part of an effort to explore different methods of operating in an environment increasingly shaped by drone warfare.