Britain’s Household Cavalry, known worldwide for Trooping the Colour during the Queen’s Birthday Parade, is coming to Abu Dhabi to perform their “musical ride” during the ADIHEX exhibition. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which usally acts as the Sovereign’s escort during official ceremonies, will be displaying their horsemanship in somewhat warmer climes, for four days beginning on September 30. This will be their first appearance outside Europe, and their performance in Abu Dhabi serves to emphasise the strength of the relationship between the UAE and the UK.

Normally stationed in Hyde Park Barracks, the cavalry is being brought to the capital by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, ADACH, one of the exhibition’s organisers. Lara Sawaya, the head of the exhibition’s equestrian division, said the cavalry would perform only in Abu Dhabi but that she hoped people would come from across the country. “It is something that brings two cultures together,” she said. “We hope all the British people in the UAE will come and support the Household Cavalry and give us a boost towards organising more events on a bigger scale like this in the UAE.” As nearly 100,000 people attended the exhibition in 2008, a large crowd can be expected this year to see the musical spectacular.

Britain’s ambassador to the UAE, Edward Oakden, said the cavalry’s appearance reflected the close ties between the two nations. “We try to bring the UAE the best of British. The fact is that there is no relationship the United Kingdom has with countries in the Middle East that is more important to us than that with United Arab Emirates.”

The “musical ride” is based on a series of cavalry drill movements set to music and has remained essentially unchanged for more than 120 years, since its debut at the Royal Tournament in 1882. By the time the Household Cavalry arrive in Abu Dhabi, the “musical ride” will have been honed by six months of intensive training. The drill includes demonstrations of equestrian skill, such as getting the horses to lie down on command, a practice dating from the days of horseback battles when soldiers used their mounts for cover. The commander of the Household Cavalry Regiment, Col Toby Browne, described the opportunity to perform at the Abu Dhabi exhibition as “an invitation we felt we could not say no to”.

ADIHEX runs from September 30 to October 3 at ADNEC.