21.09.2020.
Cavalry tradition returns to the Serbian Armed Forces
Fans of equestrian sports will have the opportunity to enjoy the programme of this year's “Serbian Armed Forces Cup – Karađorđevo“ which will be held on Sunday, 27 September, at the “Karađorđevo” stud farm. The programme of this, already traditional event, includes four trotting, four gallop and the main gallop race - "Serbian Cavalry Division". It is planned to livestream the event on the website of the Ministry of Defence.
The cavalry, which had a long tradition in the Serbian army, has been part of the armed forces again since 2018, after it had been disbanded almost six decades ago.
The first cavalry units were formed in Serbia at the end of the 19th century when Prince Miloš Obrenović formed his royal horse guards “The Royal Horse Guards Squadron”.In the Balkan Wars and the First World War, cavalry played an important role because horses were used in active warfare and for the transport of manpower and movable assets. During the Second World War, cavalry played an important role in deploying units in the highlands. After the Second World War, the strength of cavalry units gradually decreased and by order of the Supreme Commander of the Yugoslav People’s Army on 27 July 1959, the cavalry units were disbanded due to the development of mechanised and tank units.
In the 21st century, cavalry units have a primarily protocol purpose in the armed forces. Some foreign armed forces have the cavalry in their composition, even in the composition of the fighting units, and its task is to ensure mobility and facilitate deployment of forces on inaccessible terrain.
By the decision of the Minister of Defence, in June 2018, the Cavalry Squadron of the Guards Battalion was formed, the purpose of which is to perform military honours as part of the protocol of state bodies and provide assistance to civilian authorities in case of technological catastrophes and natural and other disasters in Serbia.
The Cavalry Squadron performs tasks using black and bay horses of the Nonius breed whose basic characteristics are endurance and relatively mild nature. Horses used by the Cavalry Squadron are bred in the Military Institution "Morović" – the "Karađorđevo" stud farm and in the "Mezöhegyes" stud farm in the Republic of Hungary.
The newly formed cavalry unit carries out its tasks in the Novi Sad garrison, in the famous "Karađorđevo" stud farm, founded in 1885.There is also a horse racing course at the "Karađorđevo" stud farm, where horse races are traditionally held. Simultaneously with the return of cavalry units to the Serbian Armed Forces, after a 12-year break, in 2018, the event "Serbian Armed Forces Cup" was re-established, which restored the "Karađorđevo" stud farm to its original splendour.
Thanks to the Military Construction Institution "Belgrade", the facilities for the lodging of horses, auxiliary facilities and the administrative building with a farrier’s workshop and a smithy were renovated at the stud farm. New stands were built on the horse racing course with accompanying facilities and equipment, and the trotting and gallop tracks were reconstructed.
The carefully arranged Museum of Horsemanship has testified to the long tradition of the military stud farm in Karađorđevo since 1983. In addition to numerous cups that the horses from this stud farm have won in various competitions, the museum also keeps the registry books of horses from the beginning of the last century, as well as the oldest visitor’s book in the Balkans, which dates from 1924.
By investing in the capacities of the "Karađorđevo" stud farm, the Serbian Armed Forces are actively contributing to the preservation of cavalry tradition and equestrian sports, and the restoration of our armed forces’ cavalry units is proof of respect for ancestors and memory of the famous cavalry division and the victory it won.
