At the beginning of the First World War, mounted troops were still considered as the main component of offensive warfare. In battle, members of the cavalry carried a sword, rifle (for use when dismounted) and sometimes a lance. Cavalry regiments were also equipped with one or two machine guns carried by a team and cart.

In 1914 most of the major armies had around a third of their strength in horsemen. The British, French and German armies all considered their cavalry to be an elite force and had considerable influence over the tactics used during battles. Nearly all the senior officers in the British Army were ex-cavalry officers and it has been claimed that this explained the type of tactics used on the Western Front.

The reconnaissance function of the cavalry during the First World War was rendered obsolete by the use of aircraft such as the Farman MF-II, Avro 504 and the BE-2.

The cavalry were of limited value in trench warfare. However, during major offensives, mounted troops were still massed in large numbers waiting the opportunity to charge the enemy lines. When the cavalry were used on the Western Front it was found to be completely ineffective against machine gun fire. The British cavalry was more successful against less well-organised armies such as the Turks during the Battle of Gaza.