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Other Famous Horses of the Civil War (Top of Page)Another famous Civil War horse was a small chestnut gelding purchased in 1861 by Thomas Jackson for his wife. However, due to his steadiness, Little Sorrel became General Stonewall Jackson's mount for the entire war, and was carrying him when he was fatally wounded in 1863. Little Sorrel was returned to Mrs. Jackson, and she ultimately gave him to the Virginia Military Institute, where Professor Jackson had taught artillery tactics and philosophy. Little Sorrel passed away in 1886 at the age of thirty-six, buried beside a statue of General Jackson. General Ulysses S. Grant's most famous horse was Cincinnati, an 18 hand Thoroughbred. Cincinnati accompanied President Grant to the White House. Another famous Union horse was Rienzi, aka Winchester, a black with three white socks who was the favorite of General Philip Sheridan. The American military horseman does not consider a horse a piece of machinery, like a plow or an ATV, but a valuable and trusted member of the team upon whom necessary supplies, firepower, communication, flanking or breaking of the enemy formation, reconnaissance, and rapid deployment of shock and awe has depended, and thus the lives of troops, throughout the ages. An instruction from Major General William T. Sherman to his troops shows the value of the horse to the army:
The estimated one million horses and mules that moved supplies, arms, munitions and men were critical, and feeding and watering them was a monstrous logistical task. Artillery was pivotal to the war, and a battery of six light guns needed 110 horses to take the field, and an even larger number would be required for a battery of mounted artillery. One driver was assigned to each pair of horses, riding the on (left) horse and holding reins for it and the off (right) horse. Skilled riders were required for this service, which combined the daring of the cavalry troopers with the precision teamwork expected of the artilleryman. Drivers were issued a leg-guard, an iron plate encased in leather and strapped to the right leg to prevent the limber pole from injuring them.
One of the conditions of Lee's surrender at Appomatox was that the Confederates would be allowed to take their horses with them. In a time when both sides, thus the entire nation, had lost 620,000 men, and as many horses - as much to hardship, disease, and hunger as to battle wounds, hard to replace horses were needed to rebuild lives and homes and jobs in a decimated South. The horses and mules that went home with the Confederates were invaluable during Reconstruction. All that the troops suffered, the horses had suffered too - and these veterans of both North and South did not forget. Lest you think the compassion of the great General Lee towards his horses whom he sent away from the front periodically by turns for rest and relaxation, was unusual, we cite his capable and devoted General Longstreet's unconscious comment about his own horse, in his detailed account of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg. With the task of chronicling one of the most important battles of our history, Longstreet unwittingly revealed a personal trait that is automatic in the good cavarlyman - concern for his mount: "He [Lee] was in his usual cheerful spirits on the morning of the 1st, and called me to ride with him. My column was not well stretched on the road before it encountered the division of E. Johnson (Second Corps) cutting in on our front, with all of Ewell's reserve and supply trains. He ordered the First Corps halted, and directed that Johnson's division and train should pass on to its corps, the First to wait. During the wait I dismounted to give Hero a little respite. (The Irish groom had christened my favorite horse " Haro.") [Italics mine.] After a little time General Lee proposed that we should ride on, and soon we heard reports of cannon. The fire seemed to be beyond Cashtown, and as it increased he left me and rode faster for the front. " During war, horses suffered most from hard marches and lack of supplies - food and water and shoes for worn down hooves, stone bruises, harness and girth galls, saddle sores and sore backs. Just as men went days without food, starved, even, so did the horses. Just as men caught diseases from unhygienic encampments, and died, so did horses. Just as men were driven too far in a day in marches pursuing or retreating or to reinforce the line, so were horses. Horses that went lame, and could not keep up, but would be sound with a little food and rest were destroyed on marches, lest they fall into enemy hands. The men and the horses suffered together. That is war. The generals did not declare war - the civilians did, and the men and horses obeyed, served, and are honored. If you like horses and Civil War history, you must get this DVD: (Top of Page) Narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell, director of the epic films "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals", "Horses of Gettysburg" captures the relationship between soldiers and the horses that they so desperately depended on for survival in the bloodiest battle on American soil in our history. For three days, beginning on July 1, 1863, the armies of Lee (75,000 men, of whom 28,063, 38% would perish) and Meade (83,000 men, of whom 23,049, 28% were lost) engaged in a struggle that is studied around the world. Horses and mules served in the 10,000 actions that cost 620,000 human lives over four long years from 1861 to 1865 that comprised the War Between the States. Due to the variety of jobs the horses filled, nearly three times as many horses participated as men. Filmed in high definition with charging horses, battlefield panoramas and no "talking heads," this cinematic documentary tells the story of the estimated 72,000 horses and mules that fought at the Battle of Gettysburg. 3,000, 4% were lost; and the 9th Massachusetts Artillery Battalion suffered a catastrophe, losing 80 of its 88 animals in the Trostle farmyard. It uncovers the strategies employed to ensure that the millions of animals in service with the North and South remained healthy and well-trained for action. Contrary to popular myth, unlike elsewhere in the world, American war horses, though casualties, were never mistreated or sacrificed, like in Napoleon's gruesome winter retreat from Russia, Lord Cardigan's heroic but disastrous Charge of the Light Brigade, October 25, 1854 during the Crimean War at the Battle of Balaklava, in which of 600 cavalry, 36% of the men and 20% of the horses were lost (only 195 remained with their horses when it was over, 118 men killed, 127 wounded, 120 horses lost), nor the carnage suffered by European and Ottoman horses in The Great War. Many an American artillery officer, quartermaster, and cavalry officer, Blue and Gray, used a quote from one of our revered Founders to keep attention to detail sharp: "A little neglect may breed mischief: for want of
a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for
want of a horse the rider was lost. " "Horses of Gettysburg" celebrates the honor and courage of these four legged warriors and their critical role in shaping the United States of America that we live in today. From the producer and director of "EXPO - Magic of the White City" narrated by Gene Wilder and "Gettysburg and Stories of Valor" narrated by Keith Carradine, "Horses of Gettysburg" is a special edition DVD Box Set in the CIVIL WAR MINUTES® series. In the early days of America, our Founders argued over the establishment of a federal army or navy, to protect our frontiers from incursion, still highly possible from the French and Spanish, and the British via Canada, or our merchant marine fleet plying the trade routes of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean (Congress, upon the urging of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, ordered the construction and manning of six frigates in 1794, and the War Department administered naval affairs from that year until Congress established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798). It was like pulling teeth to be prepared to defend against the Barbary pirates or the impressment of our sailors into British warships for their war with the French that was crippling the trade of our young country and its supply imports. So by the time of the Civil War, very few men were graduates of West Point (Established by an Act of Congress at the instigation of President Thomas Jefferson in March of 1802) or the Virginia Military Institute (founded 1839), and many of these great officers, such as Lieutenant General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, former VMI professor, were lost in the bloody conflict. It was necessary for both sides to train enlistees quickly for duty in the ranks, and then draftees. It is no surprise that some of the most celebrated men of both cavalries rose from the ranks of gentlemen farmers, lawyers, doctors and merchants who had at least learned to ride as boys before joining up. It is also no surprise that the horrific attrition rate under modern munitions inspired commanders like Lee and Grant and their adaptable cavalry officers to minimize the use of the cavalry charge, which was such a feature of Napoleonic warfare, to avoid losing trained troops, horses, and officers they could not spare - and instead virtually perfect the use of cavalry units as reconnaissance, harassing and feinting tools, and guerilla lightning bolts. One of the reasons the famous battle of Brandy Station just prior to Gettsyburg stands out, is because it was a rare clash of cavalry units beyond skirmishes - thousands were engaged. It was in the Civil War that the art of using dismounted troopers was perfected by officers of both sides. The horses enable sharpshooters to be rushed to a place in the front where they can be effective, then dismount, and attack enemy cavalry or provide covering fire for infantry advances or artillery being brought up. Pretty idealized paintings, stunt riders and horses in movies, and common children's myths, and the modern sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting, give a wrong impression of mounted American war - probably because the foolish tactics employed by our allies and enemies overseas continued right up to and including World War II. Look. It is difficult, if not impossible, to strike your moving mounted opponent with saber, lance, or rifle or pistol shot, from the back of a charging horse. Also, unless you are well out of range of infantry or artillery fire, the enemy will obviously simply shoot your horse out from under you during the charge. (See Charge of the Light Brigade, below.) Foolish Europeans continued to charge into machine gun fire in World War I and II, which in the Civil War Americans already knew was insane, due to the invention then of the Gatling gun. Officers, and there were a few, who egotistically or heatedly sacrificed their men and horses in over-ambitious raids, marches or charges were not common, and were not emulated. Officers who used the speed, maneuverability, and versatility of their mounted troops to interdict, harass, cut supply lines, and conduct guerilla raids and ambushes were, however, glorified. The chronicles of history record that in most wars some figure, through intrepidity, originality, and brilliancy of action, has raised himself above his fellows and achieved a charm which is commonly associated only with characters of fiction. In the American Civil War, (or the War Between the States), three dashing cavalry leaders--Stuart, Forrest, and Mosby--so captured the public imagination that their exploits took on a glamour, which we associate--as did the writers of the time--with the deeds of the heroes of Chivalry. Of the three leaders Colonel John S. Mosby (1833-1916) "The Gray Ghost" was, perhaps, the most romantic figure. In the South his dashing exploits made him one of the great heroes of the "Lost Cause." In the North he was painted as the blackest of scoundrels, due to the exasperation caused by a successful enemy against whom all measures were worthless and ineffective. So great became the fame of Mosby's partisan exploits that soldiers of fortune came even from Europe to share his adventures. Colonel Mosby was a "Virginian of the Virginians", educated at the State's University, and seemed destined to pass his life as an obscure Virginia attorney, when war brought him his opportunity for fame. His memoirs contain the story of his life as a private in the cavalry, as a scout, and as a leader of partisans. But Mosby was the type of man who is not content with the routine performance of duties, and this was illustrated early in his career as a soldier. He was ever on the watch to aid the cause in which he was engaged. Stuart's famous ride around McClellan and Lee's attack on Pope, before he could be reinforced, were deeds for which Mosby fairly earned some share of credit. He, too, very matter-of-factly recalled the importance officers placed, from the outset, on the impeccable care of the horses they expected from their men, who included lawyers, preachers, teachers, farmers, woodsmen, and small businessmen.
"Captain Jones had strict ideas of discipline, which he enforced, but he
took good care of his horses as well as his men. There was a horse
inspection every morning, and the man whose horse was not well groomed got
a scolding mixed with some cursing by Captain Jones. Jones was always very
kind to me. He drilled his own company and also a company of cavalry from
Marion, which had come to our camp to get the benefit of his instruction
in cavalry tactics.
In the Marion company was William E.
Peters, Professor at Emory and Henry College, who had graduated-in the
same class in Greek with me at the University. When he and I were students
reading Thucydides, we did not expect ever to take part in a greater war
than the Peloponnesian. Peters had left his literary work to be a
lieutenant of cavalry. He was made a staff officer by General Floyd in his
campaign that year in West Virginia. For some reason Peters was not with
Floyd when the latter escaped from Fort Donelson in February, 1862. Peters
was a strict churchman, but considered it his duty to fight a duel with a
Confederate officer. He became a colonel of cavalry." - CHAPTER III The Artillery Horse (Top of Page)When an officer misused his horses with too strenuous a ride (too fast, too far, no rest) he was not respected by senior commanders, fellow officers, nor the troops. It did not take long for a recruit to learn to keep his saddle blanket clean and dry to spare his horse's back, to use the grooming tools provided in his kit, and forage for his horse whenever he could — regardless of plans for, or rumors of, provisions.
Robert J. Trout, civil war historian, has completed a definitive work on the horse artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia, Galloping Thunder. Wonderful candid letters home by cannoniers and other battalion troops, and detailed reports by officers are included in his excellent documentation of the facts of those wrenching years. While many civilians focus on the glamorous cavalry when they think of the horse in combat, it is clear from the officers of cavalry, infantry, ordnance, and quartermaster corps, that most considered the horse artillery the "heart and soul" of their battalions. The speed with which skilled troops could maneuver into position, unhitch their teams of six to move them to safety, and begin sighting and firing, then reverse the process over rough terrain truly awed their fellows, many of whom were experienced plowmen and single or double hitch drivers at home. The McClellan Saddle (Top of Page)One of the ironic advantages to society of war is invention and research that produces lasting advances in technology and social welfare. The improvement of arms is frequently cited, but changes for the horses are often overlooked. General McClellan was tasked prior to the outbreak of the war, with choosing a standardized saddle for remounts, by then Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis. At the time, various suppliers made saddles of various styles. Most officers and enlisted horsemen used personal saddles from home, rather than a government issue saddle that did not fit them or their horse. By the outbreak of the war, General McClellan's saddle, modeled on a Hungarian design, had been approved for its versatility and universal fit. At the start of the war the saddle gave an advantage to troopers of the Northern regiments. By the end of the war, Southern troopers had replaced their motley array of saddles with McClellans made for them or retrieved from the field. The horrific losses of men and horses in the Civil War resulted in some good. The American military learns from history. We had millions of wounded, many with PSTD and TBI (not called that then) and most wounds of the extremities were treated by amputation to prevent excessive blood loss and gangrene. Infection was rampant. The only after-care available was a prescription of Laudenum (opium) to dull the pain.
Politics and society unleash the dogs of war and send our best and brightest into its hell fires. In the aftermath, survivors who remain in the military spend peacetime building for the next conflict that will surely come one day. Americans, in true pioneering spirit, do not just devise new weapons with which to slay the enemy. They know that victory will also depend on husbanding our resources of trained personnel, expensive equipment that permits movement and communication, and facilitating the care of our survivors - wounded or not. Without them, the character and knowledge of those who sacrificed is lost to the society that must pick up the pieces and carry on. The horse has been an integral part of that journey, that quest for excellence. The American military has been sensible to the privations of the horse in war, as well as the soldier, and has done more about it than any other country in the history of civilization. Those innovations have benefited civil transportation, civil communication, civil engineering, and civil medicine and therapy. The Spanish American War (Top of Page) The First United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was formed by Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Leonard Wood, M.D.*, an Army doctor who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor, and for whom Fort Leonard Wood is named. On July 1, 1898 TR, exposed as the only man on horseback, led the Rough Riders and elements of the Ninth and Tenth Regiments of regulars, African-American "buffalo soldiers," and other units up Kettle Hill. After that hill was captured, TR, now on foot, led a second charge up the San Juan Heights. This was what TR called his "crowded hour." *Fort Leonard Wood is named in honor of the good doctor. The Rough Riders were first based at Fort Sam Houston. The famous conservationist eventually became Governor of New York, Vice President and ultimately President. But much of his fame was gained in those last days of the war as the colorful Colonel. The people loved him, but Washington insiders did not. Although several people in high positions campaigned for him to get the medal, it was not to happen in his life time.
"There were all kinds
of things I was afraid of at first, ranging from grizzly bears to 'mean'
horses and gun-fighters; but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually
ceased to be afraid." - An Autobiography, 1913
Over one hundred years later, he would finally be recognized for his bravery on that day. On January 16, 2001, Theodore Roosevelt became the first President to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest award for Military Service given in the United States. It is fitting that this horseman, who understood both war and peace so well, became the only President to ever receive both the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest honor for actions in war, as well as the Nobel Prize for Peace. TR loved horses and his ranch in the West. He felt it was America's destiny to protect the weak, and encourage the oppressed, always leading by a brave example, and daring to risk making mistakes. Failure to try was, in TR's mind, failure to live. He expressed clearly one day the general attitude of the American serviceman:
"A healthy-minded
boy should feel hearty contempt for the coward and even more hearty
indignation for the boy who bullies girls or small boys, or tortures
animals."..."What we have a right to expect of the American boy is that he
shall turn out to be a good American man." = "The
American Boy," by Theodore Roosevelt, St. Nicholas Magazine, May 1900
The 21st Century War Horse (Top of Page)An American horse soldier would no more abuse a good mount, artillery caisson or limber, supply drayage or ambulance horse or mule than throw away his food, weapons, and boots, and abandon his brother-in-arms. He would no more stand by and watch another person abuse a horse, than watch that person abuse a woman, a child, or a person with a disability.
Notice, in their stories, how much American military organization, training, doctrine and care had developed in the years since 1865 by the 1940s. A characteristic of the American military that sets it apart from most other nations is that it has compassion, and it studies and learns from its mistakes. While others write histories glorifying martyrdom, pillage, and the subjection and humiliation of their opponents, military and civilian alike, American officers and men are always asking, "how can we do better, when the inevitable next time calls on us to serve?" The Remount Service in Italy (Top of Page)The most effective use of horses was in the Italian campaign by the 10th Mountain Division against the Germans, who used 4,000 animals per infantry brigade. From the beginning of this animal program until VE-day, approximately 15,000 horses and mules were received and processed, and 11,000 issued to using forces by the Quartermaster Remount Service in Italy. The men selected for Animal Remount Service were chosen from various units and replacement depots on the basis of experience with animals, although, until March 1944, roughly 50 per cent of the personnel were inexperienced and had to be trained on the job by the other qualified 50 per cent. The resourcefulness of the U.S. military during WWII was phenomenal. [Note: The 10th Mountain Division fought the enemy in Afghanistan during OEF in the infamous rugged badlands and cave and tunnel riddled mountains of Tora Bora near the Pakistani outlaw border tribal areas, home to Al Qaeda since the Afghanis were fighting the Soviets.] In considering exceptional performance of duty under adverse circumstances the Veterinarians assigned to Remount certainly come in for their share of honors. They were confronted with such problems as untrained assistants, lack of special medicines, and lack of instruments. Through their untiring efforts enlisted assistants were supervised and trained to competency, and supplies were procured locally by gleaning and searching all available sources. The fact that not one epidemic ever hit the Remount herds, when the variable sources of the stock is considered, is evidence enough of the great work done by the Veterinarians. The procurement of forage in Italy created another difficult problem. Until June 1944 there was no hay at all only tibben, which is chopped straw. After June 1944 prairie hay was usually available in sufficient quantities, but the quality was only mediocre and the price exorbitant. In March 1945 the situation was alleviated by shipments of sixty day forage supply from the United States for mules shipped to Italy for the 10th Mountain Infantry Division.
Normally the Remount Service in the field was not concerned with animal breeding. However the Pisa Station was faced with maternity problems subsequent to the capture of a number of German mares by the 10th Mountain Division. The favorite pet of personnel and visitors at Pisa was a beautiful colt belonging to a dappled gray mare, which formerly spent her time pulling a Jerry field piece in a northerly direction prior to capture. The condition of the horses captured from the Germans was generally fair. Of the first captives, some came in with gaping shrapnel wounds, most were lousy, and some appeared to be suffering from malnutrition. The manes of the captured horses were not roached, and, unlike our Army, the Germans used many stallions for transportation as well as for drawing heavy artillery. When our forces captured the Po Valley they discovered tens of thousands of riding and draft horses, and a negligible number of mules, running free. The Germans had been unable to get these across the Po River in the haste of chaotic retreat. Among these animals were some of the best German and Austrian stock, along with the best of the Italian breed, which had been procured as they were rolled back from Reggio and Salerno to the Po River. It was no trouble at all to walk into any field and select a perfectly matched team of dappled gray or chestnut draft horses. Also there were well conformed hunting and jumping types. The main collection point for these animals, was San Martino De Spino, formerly an Italian Cavalry School. It was here that further evidence of Teuton cruelty was brought, to light, for among the animals collected at San Martino were some with their legs and hind quarters burned severely and, others with their faces and necks burned to a similar degree. This meant that the Germans, when they could not get their wagons across the Po, had set them afire without freeing either the animals drawing the vehicles or those tied to the rear and being led. These poor creatures were, of course, put out of their misery with the least delay by the U. S. Army Remount personnel. Through the AMG, payment of all requisitioned items was settled. When the war was over, the AMG assumed the job of distributing all captured animals to the patriots that had helped to liberate Italy. Remount collected and held these animals and turned them over to AMG as dispositions were made. This proved to be a gigantic task because of the thousands of horses and mules that had been displaced with the German retreat towards the, Po River. In one compound near Bologna approximately two thousand captured animals were held for distribution to Italian farmers. The Remount Service played a vital part in the success of the Allied armies in Italy. A quick glance at the North Appenines terrain is all that is required to realize the importance of the sure-footed, long-eared kinsman of the horse in negotiating the treacherous mountain trails that lead to the fox-holes, the dugouts, and the gun emplacements. The following citation is a fitting tribute to the men who handled the mules that carried C rations and bullets to the men who won the war: "The 6742nd Quartermaster Remount Depot (Ovhd) is awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque for superior performance of duty under adverse conditions for the period October 1, 1944, to February 15, 1945. During this period it was the function of the Depot to supply 5th Army horse and mule units, both original issues and replacements of a quality capable of performing the burdensome task of packing supplies quickly and regularly. This meant the procuring, processing, and maintenance of a daily average of 1,304 animals for the entire period... Through the untiring and superior efforts of men and officers this mission was accomplished in a superior and efficient manner, irrespective of time, place, weather conditions, irregularities in schedules, mediocrity of original stock secured, and lack of previously trained personnel... The proficiency and professional skill, outstanding organizational abilities, and efficiency with which animals and administration were handled, reflect the highest tradition of the Service." The detailed construction plans for horse stables, veterinary clinics, and necessary outbuildings remain in U.S. military archives and are available for nominal fees. Many of the American standards we use today for stall size and other stable specifications came from the United States military. Military-info.com Standards The lack of horses was lamented by Generals such as Omar Bradley and George S. Patton in the North African and Italian campaigns of WWII in their after action reports. However, the affect of modern weaponry on the European and Asian military horses was already known to us. The loss of our 26th Cavalry men and horses to the Japanese at Luzon and Baatan in the early days of the war horrified our American senior officers, all trained horsemen, so that our horses and mules were never again intentionally sent into battle, unlike our allies and enemies Don't Forget the Military Mules (Top of Page)
Statue of "Hannibal", Army Mule mascot who served the Corps of Cadets faithfully from 1947 to 1964 at the U.S. Military Academy (West Point). Erected in 2004 by Company M, 2nd Regiment, West Point Class of 1954 across from the Visitor Center, the scuptor is J. David Nunneley. Photo by Bill Coughlin, April 23, 2008.You can visit the West Point mule mascots at the West Point Vet Clinic, which serves the U.S. Military Academy community, incorporates their stable, and functions as a pet shelter with adoptable pets for the local area. West Point MascotsTROTTER, a four-gated mule, possessing a number of other outstanding accomplishments, was transferred to West Point Station when the 35th QM Pack Co., was deactivated at Fort Carson, Colorado, in the Spring of l957. RANGER 1973-2005 HooRah Ranger! And a loving rambunctious tradition it is that Ranger was a part of and that continues today:
During a "Change of Command" ceremony on Sept. 7, 2002, Army's storied gridiron program ushered in a new chapter in yet another rich Academy tradition.
Since 1899, mules have served as the mascots for the Corps of Cadets. The choice of the mule as a mascot reflects the long-standing usefulness of the animal in military operation - transporting guns, supplies and ammunition. Strong, hearty and persevering, the mule is an appropriate symbol for the Corps of Cadets. Thus, an oversized white mule, used to pull a local ice wagon, was groomed, outfitted with leggings, a collar and a gray blanket, and dispatched to the stadium. Legend has it the first meeting between the two mascots ended when the mule whirled and "hoisted that astonished goat toward the Navy stands to the delight of the yelling, laughing crowd." The halftime ceremony heralds a changing of the mule guard as faithful servants Traveller and Trooper will be retired, leaving companion Raider in charge of peppy young newcomers Ranger II and General Scott, who were officially "sworn in" at halftime. Ranger II-the second Army mule to bear the moniker Ranger-is named in honor of the 75th Ranger regiment, "out of respect for all Rangers everywhere, living and dead," according to donor Steven Townes. Ranger II is a 5-year-old former trail riding mule who hails from, appropriately, Independence, Kan. General Scott is a 3-year old pasture-raised mule from Missouri, who is named after former USMA Superintendent, and noted mule lover Gen. Willard Scott. Often during Army-Navy games in past seasons, Gen. Scott could be found proudly roaming the Army sidelines atop one of the Academy's mascots, urging the team to victory. [Gen. Scott graduated from West Point in 1948 and commissioned in the Field Artillery. Over his Army career, he received the Distinguished Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and two Commendation Medals.] Also known as "Scottie," the youngest Army mascot earned his new mule name following an internet poll of Army fans, who were asked to select from four choices: General Scott, Warrior, Thunder and Storm. General Scott won hoofs down, garnering more than 44 percent of the vote. Army's two newest mascots were graciously presented to the Academy by Townes, a 1975 USMA graduate. A former head Rabble Rouser and mule rider, Townes today serves as CEO of Ranger Aerospace. "This donation came out of a desire to give something back to the Academy, and for me, it is such a uniquely personal angle because I rode the mules as an underclassman and later became head Rabble Rouser," Townes said. "You never quite get that head Rabble Rouser 'thing' out of your system." When asked how much a mule costs, Townes replied, "That will forever remain a military secret, but I can tell you they are worth a heck of a lot more than a Navy goat." Traveller and Trooper now bask in retirement at new digs supplied by Judge William Wilson Jr., who transported the mules to the Wye Mountain Branch of the Rasputin Mule Farm in Bigelow, Ark. Traveller and Trooper were welcomed to Arkansas during a formal event on Oct. 19, 2002, at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, located in the Tower Building, which was Gen. Douglas MacArthur's (USMA '03) birthplace. Ranger II and General Scott bring to 15 the number of mules who comprise their own "Long Gray Line." Following the debut of the white ice-wagon mule in 1899, who helped propel Army to a 17-5 victory over Navy, a succession of mules roamed the Army sidelines, either selected randomly from the stables at West Point for home games or borrowed from nearby stables in the vicinity of away games. However, in 1936, Mr. Jackson became Army's first officially designated mascot. Formerly a pack mule with the Regular Army, Mr. Jackson served West Point for a dozen years and was the oldest mule in the Army. The football teams won three national championships and forged a sterling 83-28-9 mark during his illustrious tenure. It is into that legacy, carried on throughout the years, that Ranger II and General Scott canter today. A lineage of strong, hearty and persevering animals who
have provided faithful and selfless service to the Military Academy and its cadets for more than a century. - Monday, March 14, 2005 8:49:52 PM by Calpernia,
Free Republic Chat forum
So it would seem that the hundreds of other colleges and universities around the country, and the millions of young American men and women President Elect Obama admonishes to pull their pants up and do some "community service" could learn a few things from "The Long Gray Line" of graduates and their faculty and administration! One of the most ambitious and successful uses of mules in WWII was in the Mars Task Force of 1944. Mules were used once or twice to pack supplies into the advanced positions, but otherwise were kept back well out of possible artillery range. Mules are difficult to replace under combat conditions, and large and small were bred and trained for very specialized jobs.
Brigadier (later Major) General Merrill, leader of the
famed Burma Marauders, has been quoted as making the classic definition of
the troubles of the leader who handles both men and mules. After the
Marauder campaign from Ledo to Myitkyina, Merrill said: "Next time give me mule skinners instead of doughboys,
for it is easier to make doughboys out of mule skinners than mule skinners
out of doughboys."
Once again our Remount Service purchased locally ponies and feed, instead of simply confiscating them as our enemy, the Japanese did from the farmers and villagers who depended upon them. Also as in Italy, the native animals were given away to locals, to help begin the after-war rebuilding of the region.
During the Allied occupation of Germany following World War II, horses were used by the American military. The Military Government in Berlin directed the Occupational Army to mount their Constabulary Mounted Platoons and to provide horses to the servicemen for recreational purposes throughout the Occupational Army areas of control.
Korea (Top of Page)
Do not think the Quartermaster Corps was alone in its appreciation of mules. According to Colonel R. E. Ireland, a former Cavalry Officer and Chief of Remount Service, "In March 1951, North of Kumyanjung Ni, the famous Wolfhound Regiment had 33 mules with one machine gun unit. There were many others in use in the same sector. Troops were reluctant to give information as to where captured animals were located, or in what numbers, for fear they would be denied their use and they would be moved to another area. On the drive north from Seoul late in May, the 1st Cavalry Division moved the animals they had acquired earlier by trucks. (The QMC 6x6 truck is readily adaptable for this purpose and required no major change.) In the mountainous sector north of Seoul to the Imjin River, captured animals were used to pack in barbed wire, steel stakes, mines, etc. As an interesting sidelight, one of the animals being used was a former U. S. mule about whose identity there was not the slightest doubt. His Preston Brand was 08K0. He was one of the many mules shipped to CBI during World War II and later commandeered by the Red Chinese Army."
At the time of transfer of remount depots to the Department of Agriculture, when that agency assumed responsibility for the Horse Breeding Program, a Foreign Aid Program was underway to purchase process and ship 1000 pack mules to Greece. This program was enlarged and by the time the last military personnel left Fort Reno, Oklahoma, in December l949, approximately 10,000
head of mules had been purchased and shipped to Greece.
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Featured
Horses: Arabiis Mickey and Minnie. (Arabiis pictured left.)
These horses have the most important job of any horse in America. They
are members of the Ceremonial Honor Guard Caisson platoon stationed at Ft. Myer, VA, which is
part of 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) our nation's oldest active duty unit,
formed in 1795. Their main job is laying national greats and service members to rest with dignity, respect, and honor in Arlington
National Cemetery, and participating in the most important state ceremonies
of our country. However, since 2006 they have taken on another
mission. They also provide physical and psychological therapy for
wounded troops, particularly amputees. The trainers say they can tell from
how tender they are to the veterans that Arabiis, Mickey and Minnie
appreciate their new detail. The troops gain immediate improvement in
balance, coordination, stamina, core body strength, control, and most of all, relaxation. The
horse's walk feels much like a human walk, so they regain the sensation of
walking and feel free and whole when with their horse.
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Thank you for having graced our
lives, and taught so many people the joy of horsemanship.
There is no stronger bond between a rider and his horse than on the
battlefield. Just as a soldier's military friends are his friends for
life, so too is his relationship with the horse that heard the sound of the
guns, or braved the tip of the spear. Once acquired, a war horse is
trained for a specific job with his unit. A veteran of training
drills, or deployment on campaign, is a proven asset, like any trained
soldier or marine. Therefore, unlike the oxen, donkeys, mules or
horses of mining, subsistence farming, or drayage in civilian settings, the
warhorse is a highly trained valuable partner. The best retired to the
cavalry, farriery, veterinary, and artillery and infantry schools to teach
the next generation of troops and horses, or mustered out with their riders
and handlers and skinners to a second career at home - rebuilding their
lives and the decimated towns and farms from whence they came. The horses, the horsemen, and
the lack of them, have shaped the course of civilization, both Eastern and
Western. The job of the Great Wall of China was to keep Mongolian
horsemen out! 
Sometimes
you can't give an older horse the gentle exercise and continued attention he
needs. He may be serviceably sound for light work, but no longer able
to enjoy the strenuous sport you want to keep doing. If he is still
sound on the flat at the walk, trot, and canter, you may consider finding
him a new job where his years of training and experience will enable him to
enrich other lives. Temperament and ground manners are
very important for the few military jobs, especially when dealing with crowds,
cityscapes, and noises on parade and during the firing of salutes.
Their stately elegance, and ability to stand perfectly still for long
periods during funerals and ceremonies, is critical to the overall solemn
and beautiful visual and emotional effect for the occasion. Many military horses are now assuming an
additional mission, as our Featured Horses Arabiis, Mickey, and Minnie do at Ft. Myer.
Contrary to Hollywood storytelling, the
finest examples of care of the horse, and training of personnel who handle
and use them, throughout history, and especially American history, is not in
the Wild West or on the cattle drive, but in the military. 
Two of the greatest generals of modern civilization, and of the United States of America, kept with them unto their demise in ripe old age their retired, and popularly famous, war mounts. These men were General George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the
Revolutionary Forces and two term first President, and General Robert E. Lee, Commander of the Army of Virginia for the Confederate States of America who had declined President Lincoln's offer of command of the Union forces. 
"Marse Robert" is universally remembered as a
gentleman and a modest, humane, person, as well as a brilliant commander. Like
Washington, before and after their wartime accomplishments, they were known
as fine horsemen who kept exemplary stables. Here is General Lee's
description of Traveller, after the war, in typical humble words written by
Lee to Markie Williams (Mrs. Lee's cousin) who wished to paint a portrait of
Traveller who was then in his late twenties: 
Likewise, an artillery officer who needed six horses per
gun (three for the caisson carrying the cannon and three for the limber
carrying the ammunition) who could not move his gun due to irresponsible
loss of his horses or mules was disrespected by all ranks. Artillery
horses and mules had the worst of it, since they had to stay in the forward
lines, unlike the cavalry or scouts or couriers. The bravery of these
horses, sometimes harnessed for days on end, standing quietly in their
traces with shells exploding around them, is as great as the bravery of the
men working beside them, who had also gone without food or rest for days.
Our horses — our heroes. War is hell, and the only other being on
earth who has shared that hell with us in as great numbers and as valiantly
is the horse. Painting by William B.T. Trego (1859-1909) Battery of Light Artillery en route, US Civil War.
But
the Cavalry School was established at Fort Riley,. Kansas. And Walter
Reed Army Hospital, and others, were built. The result? Veteran
veterinarians and farriers and combat officers and engineers went to work
establishing standards, developing a better organized and robust
quartermaster corps, better cavalry and artillery tactics, better
horsemanship training for all branches of service, and ushering in the
Golden Age of the U.S. Cavalry. Veteran doctors and nurses and scientists
and designers went to work, resulting in more medical advances and
innovations in field hygiene, triage, surgery, prosthetics, and infection
and disease prevention and treatment than we can list here.
During WWI, our American horses server the British Expeditionary Force, and the French military, before accompanying American forces into
the fight. Here we see a U.S. 129th Infantry, 33rd Division supply train on the Bethincourt road in WWI. Many roads were yet unpaved for motorized vehicles, and in poor weather were impassable for them — and nearly so for the horses.
Horses were used in rough terrain in World War
II in Hawaii, as pictured here on Oahu, and even Vietnam by U.S. troops
using local mounts on a small scale.
But large-scale use of horses in rough terrain occurred in two specific
WWII operations: Italy, with the 10th Mountain Division, and Burma, in
Operation Mars.
"The Army had, for a long time, adhered closely to the
rule of not buying white, gray, or other light-colored animals, for their
protection. In Italy it was necessary to buy all available animals,
irrespective of color. These mules were called upon to pack rations to
within a few hundred yards of the front and it was suicide to both men and
animals to send a light colored animal forward. The krauts used to derive
great pleasure from mortaring our pack trains. The Germans had advanced and
retreated over every inch of ground that our troops were traversing for the
first time, and Jerry had his mortars trained on trails likely to be used by
our pack troops. It was up to the' Remount Service to camouflage the
light-colored mules sent up. Some of the famed Yankee ingenuity was mixed
with potassium permanganate, and the result was a solution that, when
sprayed on a gray mule, produced a "hintaed". An animal so sprayed remained
effectively discolored for thirty to sixty days, depending on whether the
weather was damp or arid." — The Quartermaster Review, March/April 1946.
The
475th, together with the 124th Cavalry (dismounted), two battalions of pack
artillery, the 31st. 33rd, 35th, 37th, 252nd, and 253rd Quartermaster Pack
Troops, and a field hospital, became a long range penetration outfit, the
so-called Mars Task Force. And there were those two damned elephants
someone at Regimental Headquarters picked up and brought along. A mule can
get used to almost anything, but he draws the line at an animal that hangs
down at both ends. Sensible, not knowing whether an elephant is coming or
going, the mule is inclined to play safe and take off, regardless of road,
underbrush, leader, column, or common courtesy.
It isn't unusual for an enterprising field
officer, raised on an Oregon ranch or Nebraska farm, to enlist an Afghani pony
or donkey in the rugged mountain terrain for the occasional task! Afterall, Osama bin Ladin rides, why not his pursuers? Actually, they do. Special Forces teams were trained in horsemanship, basic veterinary care, and riding at Fort Bragg before their deployment to Afghanistan following 9/11. They were thus able to carry their laptops and communications gear into remote mountain areas on horseback to call in coordinated precision air
strikes on enemy targets riding locally purchased mounts. Among the supplies provided to The Northern Alliance, our Afghan allies in defeating the Taliban, were hay, grain, and saddles for their horses. 
.
We'll have a book review on the Del Camino blog soon. In case you are curious, our Special Forces warriors first rode in tiny Afghan saddles with short stirrup leathers and small stirrups. Ideally fitted for Afghanis on the rugged mountain ponies, the comparatively giant Americans suffered excruciating rides in poor positions with their gear in those early days. They needed American Western saddles,
or McClellan saddles that are well-detailed for attaching ammo pouches, bedrolls, canteens, and a nice horn for tying off a rope if you have to ask your horse drag something heavy into or out of a position.
It was General George S. Patton who rescued the world-famous Lippizaner
Stallions of The Spanish Riding School, of the Austrian Royal Cavalry during
the last months of WWII, and
today they are an Austrian National Treasure. 
Our
very first team, captained by the head of our cavalry school with only six
months' notice, captured the Bronze Medal, despite using regular cavalry
remounts and continuing all their military duties while training for the
competition. Since he captained the 1912
Olympic team, General Henry had served repeated tours of duty in the
Philippines, served in France during World War I, served as the commandant
of cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, assistant
commandant of the Cavalry School at Fort Riley, Kansas, and finally
commanded the Army’s most prestigious cavalry regiment, the 3rd Cavalry
Regiment at Fort Meyer, Virginia. In addition to becoming the Chief of
Cavalry, Henry was appointed the President of the Federation Equestre
Internationale, the governing body for international equestrian sports. He
was also a member of the US Olympic Committee. He not only understood what
it took for the Americans to win, but he was in a position to assure the US
had those resources available.
In
the 1920's the star of the USET, comprised of our Cavalry and Artillery
officers, was Major (later Brigadier General) Harry D. Chamberlin, shown here
at the Amsterdam Olympics off the bank on Nigra. When one considers
that the U.S. Cavalry School did not have the centuries of established
training facilities, specially bred and supplied horses, and manuals
available to their European counterparts at Samur (France), Sandhurst
(Britain), Germany, Russia, etc. their accomplishment was all the more
amazing, and garnered international respect for America that continues today
among those who know the history of the Games.
The B-17 Bomber has two nicknames: "The Flying Fortress" and "The War Horse." One of the most famous B-17's of World War II was "The Memphis Belle". Stationed in England, the Eighth Air Force, and later the Fifteenth Air Force
based in Italy, America's aviators and their "war horses" endured heavy casualties as they flew in the forefront, taking the fight to the enemy with strategic daylight bombing raids on the industries and infrastructure of the Third Reich. B-17s also participated in the Pacific theater, inflicting damage on Japanese shipping. This was a potent, high-flying, long-ranging bomber
capable of unleashing great destruction, able to defend itself, and having the ability to return home despite extensive battle damage. It quickly took on mythic proportions. The B-17 Flying Fortress has become, for many reasons, an icon of American power and a symbol of its Air Force. It achieved a lasting fame in the general public, which has eluded most other bomber aircraft. Many B-17
crew members received military honors and 17 received the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States. Lt Col Nancy Love (1914–1976) and Betty (Huyler) Gillies (1908–1998) — were the first women to be certified to fly the B-17, in 1943.
Other USAAF aviators flew fighters during World War II. Like the bomber crews, Army pilots honored the planes that could take the rigors of combat and bring them back safely in the tradition of beloved war horses. Introduced in 1940, the
Under the direction of Naval Forester Walter Briggs horse logging comtractor Jerry Harpole with "Tom" and "Jerry" in the Naval Magazine Indian Island forest, Washington state, June, 2007. Photo: MC2 Maebel Tinoko. 
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.
Calvin Coolidge
Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan both rode avidly. The President preferred Arabian stallions and the forward seat for jumping. The First Lady preferred Quarterhorse geldings and
western.
Today, horses have few, but highly respected jobs in
the U.S. military, representing our nation, and serving our fallen and our
wounded. American forces in Iraq have restored the stables of the
Baghdad Zoo, and revived its equestrian program.
Baghdad Zoo Opens New Horse Stables, Pool (Top of Page)
By Sgt. 1st Class Kap Kim, USA |
| BAGHDAD, Dec. 4, 2007 – Since the relationship between Zawra Park officials and soldiers of 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, began earlier this year, the Baghdad Zoo and park have started reopening more and more exhibits to the public. Rest of Article from DefenseLink News |
Owners who are able to provide a horse to the United States Army can be confident their horse will be well-cared for and much loved by his caretakers.
Any program that would like to be added to our list should Contact Us, and any horse owner who wishes to let us know about a program where they were able to rehome their horse is encouraged to Contact Us.
Ceremonial Honor Guard Horses (Top of Page)
The
army's command for public ceremony and homeland defense sometimes must
perform with the eyes of the world trained upon them.
Several permanent units, such as the Military Band, the Arlington National Cemetery Command, and the Old Guard stationed at several bases in the area, participate in national ceremonies. Funerals with full military honors are available at several national cemeteries besides Arlington. The horses become involved when
"Additionally, officers buried in Arlington Cemetery may have the use of the caisson, if available. Officers in the rank of colonel and above in the Army and the Marine Corps may be provided a caparisoned (riderless) horse, if available. General officers may receive a cannon salute (17 guns for a four-star general, 15 for a three-star, 13 for a two-star, 11 for a one-star), if available. Each service has variations to these funeral honors.
The president of the United States is entitled to a 21-gun salute, while other high state officials receive 19 guns."
[Del Camino Note: The Unknown Soldier also received this highest honor during his burial ceremony in the Tomb of The Unknown following World War I.]
This tradition harkens back to a time when officers of all branches of the Army and Marines rode, and used horses for conveying equipment and supplies.
Caisson and Caparisoned Horse (Top of Page)
The use of a caisson and caparisoned horse are traditional elements of the funeral procession for a military leader.
Six matched horses pull the black artillery caisson carrying the flag-draped casket. Astride three of the horses, soldiers guide the team, which seems to absorb the military bearing of the men and women who sit quietly in the saddles.
The soldiers and horses are members of the Caisson Platoon of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer, Va.
The caissons that are used were built in 1918. Originally they were used to carry 75mm cannons and were equipped with ammunition chests, spare wheels and tools.
Today, these have been removed and replaced with a flat deck on which the casket rests.
The horses are matched in color, either black or gray, and are paired into three teams -- the lead team in front, the swing team following and nearest the caisson -- the wheel team. Although all six animals are saddled, only those on the left have mounted riders. This is a tradition that began in the early horse-drawn-artillery days when one horse of each team was mounted, while the other carried provisions and feed.
The riders are dressed in the Army Blue uniform with riding breeches, and boots with spurs. To the left front of the lead team, on a separate mount, rides the section chief who commands the caisson unit.
One of the older traditions in a full-honors funeral is the caparisoned (riderless) horse. The horse is led behind the caisson, wearing an empty saddle with the rider's boots reversed in the stirrups. This indicates the warrior will never ride again, and also betokens the commander's parting look on his troops, who march behind.
Tradition allows a caparisoned horse to follow the casket of any Army or Marine Corps commissioned officer in the rank of colonel or above. Presidents of our nation, as commanders-in-chief, are given the same honor.
While the platoon once stabled horses of several draft breeds – from
Lippizans and Morgans to English Shires, both white and black – the unit has
settled on a draft mix as being optimal for its mission.
The most famous caparisoned horse was Black Jack. He was foaled Jan. 19, 1947, and was the last of the Quartermaster-issue horses branded with the Army's "US" brand. He was named after Gen. of the Armies John J. "Black Jack" Pershing. He participated in the funerals of presidents John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover and Lyndon Johnson, Gen. of the Army Douglas MacArthur and thousands of other funerals during his 24 years of service with The Old Guard. Upon his death, Feb. 6, 1976, he was buried on the parade field at Fort Myer.
For the funeral of 40th President Regan, the joint services honor guard included the precision teamwork of the horse drawn caisson to bear his flag-draped casket, and veteran Sgt York served as the riderless caparisoned horse bearing the President's boots, turned backwards in the stirrups following tradition. Regan's own everyday boots were used, not the traditional polished black dress boots. The 3rd Infantry Regiment, formed in 1784 to protect America's most western frontiers, is the oldest active duty regiment, predating the Constitution. It is stationed next to Arlington at Fort Myer. Also called The Old Guard, the unit was reactived by President Truman in 1949 for its many special duties, and named it "Honor Guard to the President" in 1952.
The
present commander of the Old Guard Caisson Unit is Chief Charles Sowles.
He describes the horses as being required to stand quietly for as much as
eight hours, and to be "totally unperturbed by noise, cannon fire,
fluttering of flags, papers blowing around them." The teams are
pairs of black or grey draft mixes. PFC Joseph Armstrong, age 22, is
responsible for Sgt. York (named for the WWI Congressional Medal of Honor
recipient). He sometimes serves as a guide for the tours of the
stable, farriery, and says his charge is "the most mild-tempered horse in
the barn, and he's also smart." As an afterthought, he says, "We even have
birthday parties for this guy." Quotation and photo by freelance writer
Nancy Hoyt Belcher, Alameda California. Read full article
Exceptions to the requirement of rank of colonel are made for certain
NCOs and enlisted troops who are recognized by our country for exemplary
service. This full honors funeral at Fort Sam Houston
cemetery in San Antonio, Texas commemorated 24 year old army medic Javier Paredes, awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Iraq Distinguished Service
medallions. PFC Paredes was killed by a rocket propelled grenade while
pulling a wounded soldier from a battle with insurgents in Baghdad. Read the
story of this outstanding young man, whose family was his brother Michael, a
Marine, and the Hill Country Youth Ranch, where he was raised after being
removed from abusive and neglectful parents.
NOTE: Major George S. Patton, Jr., executive officer of the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Cavalry from Fort Myer had the unpleasant task of participating in the 1932 Bonus Army encampment dispersal in Washington, D.C. This was when FDR refused to pay the WWI veterans their bonuses during The Great Depression. Patton commented that "If, during this operation, a single shot had been fired many would have died, for in the dark on a flat plane [plain] fire discipline could not have been maintained, and there was no cover. It speaks volumes for the high character of the men that not a shot was fired."
Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Mounted Color Guard, Barstow, CA
Formed in 1967 by enlisted marines and officers, the MCG started from scratch, choosing palominos with red and gold accoutrements and training the horses and riders. The MCG has been supported by volunteer labor and
contributions for tack and horsekeeping supplies by the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps. stationed in Barstow and selected for the MCG based on their abilities, rather than rank.
Therapy Horse (Top of Page)
Earlier, we asserted that many of the healthful sanitation, medical and therapeutic advantages enjoyed by American society and spread around the world originated from our military and veterans services, and the innovative efforts of individuals affected by war. One of those advantages involves our companion in arms, the horse.
For this part of the story, the women who served enter the scene, stage left, upon the debris of mangled bodies and souls entrusted to their nurturing and gentler tendencies. Time and again, with the same resourcefulness of their pioneering men, and the same determination to soldier on, they have enlisted the best tools methods they could improvise in the field encampments, or at under-supplied and under-equipped hospitals and veterans homes, to treat or improve the lives of the wounded. Whenever the men forget the healing power of the horse-human bond, women step in to remind them, and our men join ranks with them to provide those tools to the most needy, and the most deserving.
Modern Use of the Horse's Movement as a Therapeutic Tool
The hippotherapy concept is not new, and was used as much as 2,600 years ago as documented in 600 BCE by Orbasis of Lydia as a viable treatment for people with disabilities. It is considered highly effective as a treatment for numerous conditions, and has been extensively studied.
In fact, in the 1860's, even during the Civil War, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. used horseback riding, which he taught to all four of his children, to treat the childhood conditions of his eldest daughter, Bamie, who had a deformed spine, and his eldest son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., who had severe asthma beginning at very young ages. One of the treatments for an asthmatic attack when the future President was a boy was for his father to take him for a long drive or ride, often in the middle of the night. Due to his keen interest in using activities, rather than the torturous braces, to help Bamie, Roosevelt founded the first American orthopedic hospital in New York. He worked with physicians who approved of Bamie's riding, rather than discouraging it and keeping her bedridden. However, the beneficial effects of the Roosevelts' routine were not publicized, so they are little known, even among today's therapeutic riding proponents and practitioners.
Like many of our advancements in medicine, prosthetics, and therapy, equine assisted therapy grew out of efforts to serve the battle wounded. A nurse in WWI who was working at Oxford Hospital. She was treating British soldiers who had been wounded in the war, and had no access to any kind of rehabilitation equipment or really any kind of equipment at all, but they did have horses. In desperation, she put these wounded soldiers on the backs of horses for physical therapy. Modern hippotherapy programs grew out of that.
The concept didn't really seize
the imagination of non-military therapists and medical and psychiatric
professionals until after WWII. But Therapeutic Riding was not adequately
studied or accepted by the medical community at large until an eventful day
in 1952 - when a remarkable woman named Liz Hartel made Therapeutic Riding a
reality. Liz was an accomplished equestrian who completely lost the use of
her legs when she contracted polio in 1940. She was absolutely determined to
ride independently again and used the largely unknown treatment of
Therapeutic Riding to successfully build muscle strength, agility and
coordination. Twelve years later Liz Hartel and her therapy horse Jubilee,
did something extraordinary that profoundly demonstrated the value and
therapeutic potential of riding to the world. In 1952 they won the Silver
Medal for Grand Prix Dressage at the Helsinki Olympics – a venue previously
reserved for military teams, many of which no longer existed following the
war. The medical world sat up and noticed what horsepeople had known
for millennia. "There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as
the outside of a horse." Visit the Therapy Horse
page for more information about the horse in recreation therapy, or other
equine-assisted therapies.
One of the best resources, it turns out, is the soldier's old companion-in-arms, the horse. And this therapeutic use of the horse has helped not only wounded soldiers, but children with various mental and physical disabilities, civilian accident victims, persons experiencing life crises, and persons at risk of being lost at the fringes of society - the at risk youth, the salvageable who have landed in prison, and the spouses and families left at home to wait and hope, the bereaved, and the forgotten aged.
The
human-animal bond can provide many cognitive, emotional, and generally
heathful benefits and teach life skills to ordinary healthy people, and
those experiencing challenges of all kinds. This has been proven by
scientific research, clinical observation and tests, and common experience.
What parent cannot explain the value of a pet to teach responsibility,
accompany for safety and play, and console and hear the private secrets of
their kids? Unlike cats, and our other heroic military partners,
dogs, the horse can facilitate physical healing at the same time in a
uniquely symbiotic way, due to not merely its size and power, but its
biomechanical movement - the walk of the four-legged horizontal horse
simulates the walk of an upright human being.
Did a designer plan this partnership? It is so beautiful and effective, it is hard to believe it is random luck. If it is luck, then the luck of mankind might be unique in the universe, and while the earth may be an "ordinary" planet, it is a luckily privileged one!
The
healing relationship between man and horse (military man, specifically)
extends back in Western civilization to a Thessalonian god of healing,
Chiron. Because the nomads of Thessally invaded Greece on horseback,
the healer Chiron became a man/horse in Greek mythology. Unlike the
other Centaurs, who were too fond of wine, women and song, (representing the
ordinary enemy Thessalonian marauders), Chiron was immortal, the son of the
Titan ruler of the Universe, Kronos, and a half-brother to Zeus.
Chiron was a master of the healing arts, wise, kind, and an excellent
teacher. His pupils included Achilles, the warrior hero of Homeric
legend, known for his ability to treat battle wounds with skills taught him
by Chiron. Chiron also taught the hero Asclepius, who later became the Greek
god of medicine, healing herbs, and
surgery, as well as other heroes. Chiron was accidentally shot with a
poisoned arrow. This was a wound he could not heal, and he was in
great pain. Unlike the mortal Achilles, who likewise could heal
others, but not himself, he could not die. Meanwhile, Prometheus was
sentenced to die for stealing fire from the sun. Chiron sacrificed his
immortality, the only way to save Prometheus, and allow mankind to have
fire. Zeus (now ruler of the Universe) was so saddened by the tragic
loss of Chiron, that he placed him in the sky as the constellation Centaurus
(Saggitarius). Many words in Western medicine trace back to Chiron.
So, when we reach as far back as 1,800 B.C., we find a healing horseman who teaches a warrior how to fight and how to heal, and gives mankind a great gift. When we train our telescopes at the distant stars, where some say our future lies, there again is the horseman who heals, Saggitarius, beckoning us onward.
To understand the horse intake procedures for the U.S. military, contact the unit commander responsible for the horses in your area. To look into a civilian therapy horse center that partners with the military and other community organizations, visit the Del Camino Therapy Horse page.
Historical Preservation U.S. Cavalry Horses (Top of Page)
There are active duty U.S. cavalry horses. Even though the Department of Defense does not purchase the remounts, or allocate personnel exclusively to this function for most posts, active duty forces who volunteer are assigned additional duties maintaining active duty cavalry horses to participate in important military ceremonies, such as cavalry graduations, heritage celebrations, local community events, and military retirements.
Everything about the units — tack, uniforms, accoutrements, equitation and horsemanship conform to authentic U.S. cavalry standards established in 1866. These units are authorized under orders. Many have local auxillary support associations whose members include historical reenactors. These support groups raise funds to purchase, supply, and retire the horses for the benefit of the citizens of the United States of America to preserve, protect, and honor the rich tradition of the United States cavalry in service to the opening of our frontiers, and the defense of our pioneers, our borders, and our allies abroad.
Contrary to the Hollywood movies, the cavalry does not dispose of its horses who can no longer serve or are no longer needed by abandoning them in the wild to starve and be driven off by wild herds, or euthanizing them by inhumane means. That is the fantasy of screenwriters who know how to develop a riveting storyline with good guys and bad guys, but don't know anything about military history, culture, values and horses. and have a pre-disposition to dislike and disparage those who serve. Unlike commercial users of horses, they do not send them to slaughter to make a buck, either. As we have shown, the majority of horses that survived America's wars abroad were given to locals to help rebuild the livelihoods and economies of those non-combatants who had been in the path of the conflict. The veteran horses and mules that survived the wars at home, such as the bloody Civil War, went home with their often exhausted, skinny, battle-scarred artillery, supply and cavalry troops, and officers of infantry who still had mounts took them. Who else at home, would comprehend what they had seen, heard, felt, suffered? Together in the fields, on the roads, in the woods, by the sea, near the train station, when the flashbacks came, who else would understand, and silently, bravely, stand watch until they left? Separated from the men alongside whom they fought, by the battles or by the dispersal of peace, the remaining friend is the horse who fought with them. His very existence not only helps rebuild a family's or loner's civilian livelihood, but is the comforting link to friends gone and distant, as a living reminder. Caring for him honors them, and keeps the connection. What other domestic animal stands watch in turns as his comrade sleeps? The faithful dog lies down with us, but the faithful horse takes turns, and stands his best watch at night. Boots and hooves.
There are strict guidelines for adopting a veteran equine that require you to provide a good home and care. There are approved retirement sanctuaries for aged veterans who can no longer be ridden and deserve to rest in the company of other veterans if the post does not have the facilities to house all of their retirees on site. Some of these horses still serve in a beautifully symbiotic way. They work in the field of equine-assisted therapy, easing the transition for troops returning from combat back into the realm of family and civilian. They continue, brothers in arms, carrying the hopes, dreams, and spirits of their fellow troops on the long march into the challenging unknown of the future and the uncontrollable chaos of the present called everyday life . Try as they might, modern technology, time, and place just can't separate that millennia old winning combination of boots and hooves.
Ten Active Duty U.S. Cavalry Units Today (Top of Page)
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (TheBlackhorse Regiment) Post: Fort Irwin, CA .
Served in 1901-Phillipines, Cuba, Mexico, The Last Charge, WWII, Vietnam, German Border, and Kuwait, OIF III, OIF IV. The post has a full-service Army veterinary hospital, serving government owned and privately owned horses or servicemembers stationed at the remote California desert base with both routine care, preventative maintenance and surgical capabilities The Fort Irwin 11th Cavalry Regiment Mounted Color Guard performs ceremonial duties at the fort and in the local community.
First Cavalry Division Horse Detachment Post: Fort Hood, TX
Photo:
SSG Fernandez rounds the corner to start the pistol portion of the combined
weapons drill. - courtesy 1st Cav HDU website. [Ed. note: now you know where
"cowboy" mounted shooting came from - the U.S. Cavalry!]
First U.S. Army horse unit to host a hippotherapy program for troops who received traumatic injuries, the highly successful program began in 2005 in partnership with Brook Army Medical Center of San Antonio, and Ride on Center for Kids (ROCK) a North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA) Premier Accredited Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center.
Photo:
5 of the 1st Cav mules employed in demonstrations of Weapons Support Wagons
and other traditional roles.- courtesy 1st Cav website. [Ed. note: a
skilled mule skinner of yesterday would be a highly sought after
professional teamster upon retirement to civilian life, and was/is highly
respected within the service.]
First Cavalry maintains at least 18 horses and at present about 9 mules for historical preservation, community service, public demonstrations, ceremonial events, recruitment activities, hippotherapy for wounded troops, and other civic and military duties. You might be surprised how many officers of the United States Army are avid and accomplished horsemen. When visiting Fort Hood, soldiers, be they re-enlisting troops, to NCOs to retiring generals saying farewell to fellow officers, to battalion teams celebrating completion of a mission, routinely enjoy a memorable ride with comrades and the outstanding horses of the 1st Cav HDU. This is a busy, vibrant, multi-faceted unit demonstrating every day as living American history, and a highly valuable current asset of the military, the unique contribution the horse makes in our lives and society.
Yes, the troops of the 1st CAV Horse Detachment Unit are real full-time soldiers. About two dozen ot them were welcomed home from a year's deployment in Baghdad, Iraq in January of 2005.
Meet a beloved veteran of the First Cavalry HDU:
"Smokey
was one of the best horses ever to serve with the HCD. Foaled in 1973,
Smokey actively served in our unit from 1980 to 1996. He was then retired
and lived a comfortable existence at Fort Hood until his death in December
2006. In recognition of his decades of faithful service to the Detachment
and the U.S. Army, the renovated and expanded Detachment classroom was
christened “Smokey’s Memorial Library“ - Photo and caption courtesy of
the 1st Cav HDU website gallery, 2008.
7th Infantry Division Mounted Color Guard Unit, Fort Carson, Colorado. From
1963 to 1978 the Delta 1/10 Cavalry was posted at Fort Collins and
represented the Cavalry in parades, rodeos, civic ceremonies and events in
nearly every state and several foreign countries. The current
seven-member mounted color guard assists the U.S. Army with recruiting
events and continues to provide authentic representation of the 1874
3rd Cavalry in keeping with the Mountain Post's history at Colorado
rodeos, parades, and ceremonies and fairs such as Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Fort Carson is the regular post of U.S. Armed Forces Team pentathelete First Lieutenant Mickey Kelly, who will be among those representing the military at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games currently training at the Colorado Springs Olympic facility.
"Kelly qualified for Beijing with a third-place finish at the 2007 Pan
American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Kelly improved her position
steadily throughout the day to ensure her berth. She finished seventh (out
of 14 competitors) in the shooting and fencing
disciplines,
then sixth in the swim. She made her biggest climb in show jumping,
overcoming early trouble aboard her horse, Tai Pan, to post the third-best
score. At one point, one of her feet came out of a stirrup, and she had to
clear two obstacles with one foot dangling. Fifth after the ride, Kelly
exploded in her strongest discipline, the run, easily made up a 20-second
difference and passed the two athletes standing between her and a spot in
Beijing." -NBC Sports News
Also stationed at Fort Collins is Pvt. First Class Dennis Bowsher, a fellow member of the U S Armed Forces World Class atheletic team who qualified for his place on the U S Olympic Pentahalon Team with his excellent showing at the 2005 Warsaw competition.
Field Artillery Half Section, Fort Sill, Oklahoma represents the horse drawn artillery in the 1930's in the sunset of its deployment and the rise of mechanization using eight horses. The horses are purchased for the unit by a supportive Oklahoma civilian group, The Southwest Oklahoma Chapter of the Association of the United States Army, and their graceful retirement is assured. The traditions of the Field Artillery ring out during practice on a warm Oklahoma afternoon, amid the clinking of the harness and traces to the rhythm of their hoofbeats in the old song - "Over hill over dale, we have hit the dusty trail, as our caissons go rolling along."
B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Top of Page)
B
Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial) Fort Huachuca, Arizona is
nearest and dearest to Del Camino. Some of B Troop's retired horses are now
herdmates of one of our personal retired horse, at Whispers Sanctuary.
From their Home Page: "B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial) represents the history of the U.S. Army's participation in the Indian Wars of the Southwest. Established at Fort Huachuca, Arizona on July 4, 1973, B Troop has promoted the heritage and traditions of the U.S. Army, military horsemanship, and Fort Huachuca for over 30 years. Under its official name, B Troop, 4th Regiment, U.S. Cavalry (Memorial), the group honors a unit that served at Fort Huachuca during the 1880s. Its role is the largest of all memorial cavalry units to be found both in Arizona and the U.S. Army.
The Troop is comprised of active duty military personnel, retired military, Department of Defense civilians, and military dependents. The unit's uniqueness stems from the fact that its strength is all volunteer. The work of the troop may appear romantic, but it is far from dreamy. Troopers must attend to their horses, tack, and stable duties in addition to their military duties and civilian jobs. For the majority of the members, B Troop is practically a second full-time job, considering that most appearances are on weekends and holidays. Many hours of preparation are spent behind the scenes for every performance. The troopers give of themselves freely and display the confident care, esprit, and pride that come from representing the United States Army and the history of Fort Huachuca.
B
Troop dresses in authentic uniforms and tack representative of the U.S. Army
in the 1880's, and is mounted on "Geldings of hardy color" in keeping with
the quartermaster purchase order of 1876. B Troop participates in military
ceremonies, parades, and mounted cavalry tactics demonstrations across
Arizona and the nation. Some of the most significant events the Troop has
participated in have been the Bicentennial Parade in Philadelphia, the
centennial statehood celebrations for Montana and Wyoming, and numerous
appearances in the Tournament of Roses, Fiesta Bowl, and Holiday Bowl
parades.
In August 1973, a Ladies Auxiliary to the Troop was formed. The Auxiliary participates with B Troop in public events and parades, riding sidesaddle and wearing authentic dress of the 1880's.
U.S.
Army Reserve Blue Devils Horse Platoon, consists of army reservists who
voluntarily participate to provide traditional color guard escort for
parades, civic events, memorial services and U.S. holiday gatherings on
Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Flay Day, Presidents Day,
Veterans Day, and so on. Here a member demonstrates a maneuver with
saber at a Michigan event in 2004.
Connecticut's First Company Governor's Horse Guards Avon, CT is a riding platoon of the organized militia of Connecticut. (Photo Panoramic Visions, Herndon, VA) It drills every Thursday, and all of its horses,
which must be brown or black, are donated and are evaluated for their suitability during a 90-day trial period. The unit performs in ceremonies, parades, crowd control, assists local charities, and conducts a "Say Nay to Drugs" D.A.R.E. style camp for youth annually. The unit follows traditions based on service since its formation during the Revolutionary War. It
performs nationally in addition to its meritorious service in wartime, and participated in President Eisenhower's and President Bush's Inaugural parades . YouTube video of the Mounted Unit in the 1995 Inaugural. Video library on YouTube Stabling and
horse donations. History.
State of New Hampshire Governor's Horse Guards
Members of the GHG lead the Children's Parade at the Annual Pumpkin Festival in Keene, NH - photo courtesy LTC Richard Lynch
The Governor’s Horse Guards were formed in 1859 for the purpose of escorting the Governor on public occasions. The 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce was Honorary Colonel. Today’s modern unit is a volunteer ceremonial unit of the New Hampshire Army National Guard. Members participate in parades, civic/veteran events & military drill performances while representing the State of New Hampshire and each sitting Governor.
A member unit of the Centennial Legion of Historic Military Commands, the unit performs at various ceremonial events anywhere from eight to twelve times a year both in and out-of-state. The next major out-of-state event is the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Boston on March 14th, 2010. Both mounted and dismounted members welcome. Dismounted members have a choice to carry flags and/or trained to fire artillery. For more information on how to join this organization, please contact:
LTC Richard Lynch
Governor’s Horse Guards
c/o 46 Highland Ave.
Jaffrey, NH 03452
(603) 532-6415
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry was organized by residents of Philadelphia, PA when the First Continental Congress met there in 1774 as the Philadelphia Light Horse and has served the
Republic for 230 years. This all volunteer force supported General Washington throughout the Revolutionary War and continues in federal service today as a unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Troopers have served most recently in Iraq and fulfill ceremonial functions as a mounted unit throughout Pennsylvania. The escort platoon maintains four horses at Northwestern
Equestrian facility at Chestnut Hill, PA, and also has access to the 38 horses of the Valley Forge Military Academy Equestrian Center for training and practice.
Real Retirement (Top of Page)
If
none of the retirement jobs we have discussed are appropriate for your
friend, it is time to just let him hang out and be a horse. It is time
to visit with his pasture buddies most of the day, be groomed by you and
enjoy his gentle stretches and massage to stay comfortable, be
inspected daily for possible injury, illness, or loss of condition or teeth,
and get a treat.
"Advancements in the equine health field have helped to increase the life of the horse to well into their 30s, but often well beyond their athletic usefulness. Prepare to be a responsible horse owner and plan ahead for your horse’s retirement years and beyond. As a horse owner, you should also plan to set aside an emergency fund for the unexpected but all too common injuries or illnesses that may occur in horse ownership. One final point for all horse owners to remember: the horse is a living being whose life and welfare are in your hands." -- AAEP Health Article What to Expect When Owning A Horse, Purchasing a Horse - February 15, 2007
[Comment: The emergency fund ensures you have the means to provide humane euthanasia whenever that time comes.]
The Retirement Stables page has links to retirement stables, and information on how to choose one, if you cannot keep your companion at home.
This happiness should last while he is still fit enough to enjoy it, a timeline no one can predict. When rapid decline occurs, when constant discomfort or even pain invades him, you will know. Your long association as friends and companions will have given you an "eye" and an empathy that is priceless. No one else will have this insight into the change in his behavior, his demeanor, his eyes - not even your vet who has helped you maintain him for years.
When you reach this leg of the journey, please see it for the natural course of events that life is, and begin to prepare for him to leave you. Please visit our Euthanasia and Memorials pages, so that you will be ready to help him across "The Rainbow Bridge" responsibly, just as you have cared for him all along. Choosing to own a horse is something like a wedding vow, and the very best horsepeople are just as skilled at compassionate elder care, hospice, and end of life care as they are at any other.
NOTE:
In one respect, an American, (and British, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Canadian,
Australian or New Zealand) warhorse was better off than most of today's civilian
pets. Their riders and handlers were trained in emergency first aid
for horses as well as people, because saving a valuable animal might need to
be done on the spot, some distance from a field hospital or veterinary
clinic while on patrol or during an engagement. The Buffalo Soldiers
who protected the west carried with them on patrol all that they required to
ensure they rode, rather than walked, back to the fort. But also, any
soldier might have to humanely euthanize an injured animal, and injuries
could occur anywhere, anytime - on the march or on the field.
The inability of most owners, who overwhelmingly lack military experience and are predominantly female in America, to perform this humane service puts an incredible burden on our veterinary service today. The strength of a soldier who loves his horse or mule to "suck it up" and provide dignity and release from pain to his partner or charge is, well, one of the reasons we respected a warrior who had endured such hardship to fight for us. He might have had to euthanize his best animal friend, and the abandoned animals of the enemy he pursued. The hunt, the domestic slaughter, and the humane euthanasia of an animal is a traditionally male function in society. The preparation of the remains for storage, consumption, or burial is a traditionally female function.
With so few recreational and competitive riders today being veterans of our armed forces, and so many of them being females who, throughout history have left the killing to the menfolk, this life skill learned in military training is thinly distributed among the citizens. Instead, many depend on a GPS or cell phone to bring trained, equipped, emotionally uninvolved paid or volunteer professional help in time. Learning self-reliance and preparedness, and finding the courage and inner strength to do such a hard thing, for the love of the horse, was once the skill of pioneers, scouts, and mountain men, and remains a trait of the warrior, not the civilian who has never served. If American recreational and sporting horsepeople look more to our military traditions, and less to pop culture for guidance, the huge population of American civilian horses will benefit. Instead, the feminization of horse sports, and the lack of military experience on so many breeding farms, Premarin® factory farms, racing factory farms, rodeo venues, and boarding and training stables for show horses, has served the recreational horse horse poorly in this particular arena of humane care.
I personally know many soldiers who enjoyed hunting before their service, and still enjoy camping, and trail riding, and target shooting, but can only kill an animal now to end suffering, as a result of what they have seen animals endure in the crucible, as combatants and non-combatants.
Oh yes, our warriors still see horses and donkeys on the new battlefield - as part of the local civilian economy. They still see abused, malnourished, lame, unkempt, overburdened beasts handled and overworked through no failure of military command or supply, but due to local civilian ignorance, the indifference born of poverty, and the worldview of another culture with a different ethos and attitude toward animals in general.
We still field military veterinarians to prevent local disease from spreading to our troops and to minister to and educate the civilians who must carry on and feed their families during and after the conflict. I challenge those who do not respect the American military to name a non-allied force that does the same. Certainly not Al Qaeda in Iraq, which destroys the donkeys and horses of the locals among whom they hide, then plant IEDs in their remains left on the roadside in hopes of killing American or Iraq Army troops. Their great leader bin Laden rides, and claims to love horses, but, just as he is a user and destroyer of innocent men, women and children, he is a destroyer of innocent equines in his grotesque vision of turning all of Islam into warrior monks. (Feedback here.)
The employment of unskilled, uneducated, young men who have not been taught honor, duty, and the value of life through military service in our horse entertainments, such as rodeo, and our factory farms and slaughterhouses, serves all livestock badly. The opportunities there to brutally mistreat animals for the benefit of an ignorant consumer have certainly been exploited by boys whose machismo and bravado needs a more constructive outlet and purpose, and recent immigrant men from the poorest areas of other lands where the resources to take proper care of animals is absent, even if the desire to do so exists, so they have had no exposure to a better system or values. Many come from environments much like those our warriors witness, where oppressive and corrupt dysfunctional regimes control a seething impoverished populace with a philosophy of submission and fatalism to human suffering and obedience, even reverence for inequality of opportunity and injustice, and lack of personal or community rewards or incentives for innovation or success. This breeds indifference to human and animal suffering, much less "rights."
I am grateful, therefore, that the U.S. military recruits these populations of rodeo and immigrant young men to enlist. For in the military they will be exposed to men from diverse geographic, educational, and professional backgrounds with all the cultural idiosyncrasies of America's past and melting pot. They will get an education and skills that elevate and expand their horizons when their service ends. They will be provided a disciplined, supervised outlet for their life stage aggressiveness, and learn self-discipline and good manners towards all. How many youths today who do not benefit from Sunday school or military service address an adult as "sir" or "ma'm" or a young lady they wish to meet as "miss" instead of "hey you"? They will see the seemingly random loss of life, and gain a respect for life people who only watch movies and play video games cannot acquire. They will meet military dogs, be they mascots or sentries or searchers or rescuers, and learn the humane use of a dutiful, submissive creature when the advantage is all in the human's favor, and learn American values of conservation, compassion, and innovation. They will gain an appreciation of what a "fair fight" is, and discover the difference between bravado and brutality on the one hand and honorable strength and courage on the other. They will not only develop a different approach to animals, but a clear-eyed, no sugar-coating appreciation of the freedoms and advantages that United States citizens enjoy, and what work and selfless dedication it takes to preserve them.
The future of the American horse, and the American people, can only benefit from continuing to invest in our military, and welcome those who serve back into civilian pursuits.
- America represents something universal in the human spirit. I received a letter not long ago from a man who said, 'You can go to Japan to live, but you cannot become Japanese. You can go to France to live and not become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey, and you won't become a German or a Turk.' But then he added, 'Anybody from any corner of the world can come to America to live and become an American.'
Other Resources (Top of Page)
The Del Camino Products and Services catalog offers some horse products of interest to owners of senior horses.
Other Retirement Jobs for Horses on this site related to the ceremonial and therapeutic use of the horse: Therapy Horse and Police, Border Patrol and Rescue Mounts.
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