Recruit training, trade training and courses all provide a base of knowledge and skills.  They are put into practice and tested under more exacting circumstances during exercises in the field.

The W (Westminster Dragoons) Squadron, The Royal Yeomanry usually start each year with an individual training phase.  The second quarter sees W Sqn RY fit together the various new elements it receives every year (newly-joined soldiers and officers, others who have added to their suite of skills and trades, new training objectives) and resolve any problems of integration.  This leads up to exercises at regimental level, where W Sqn operate together with or in competition against the other squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry.

Most of our field training exercises take place on the Ministry of Defence training areas at Salisbury Plain and Thetford.  However, due to the scale and pace of mounted exercises, we sometimes exercise over several counties during a single weekend.