Free to good home: Horses who have served their country

Kennedy and Quincy, highly trained horses who have served in the Army’s Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, have finished their tours of duty. And both are up for adoption, free to a good home.

By JULIE ZAUZMER
The Washington Post

HE RECEIVED received good marks in his early days in the military: “quite impressive,” his supervisor once wrote. But after he kicked a few soldiers, he swiftly found himself unwelcome in the Army.

Meanwhile, his buddy started out with similarly good reviews — “a big morale booster” — but found his military service cut short by a painful foot condition.

1st Lt. Daniel Nicolosi escorts Kennedy -- one of two horses available for adoption -- in the Caisson barn at Ft Myer in Arlington, VA, on Feb.17, 2016. — 1st Lt. Daniel Nicolosi escorts Kennedy — one of two horses available for adoption — in the Caisson barn at Ft Myer in Arlington, VA, on Feb.17, 2016.
CREDIT: Washington Post photo by Bonnie Jo Mount

Now, the two retirees are, like so many veterans leaving the service, looking for their next homes.

“These guys did their service,” Staff Sgt. David Smith said. “It’s their time to be a horse.”

They have served in a role almost unique in the U.S. military, that of the caisson horse.

Caisson horses, Arlington National Cemetary.

Caisson horses pull coffins to burials at Arlington, bringing former officers and service members killed in action in America’s wars to their grave sites with haunting uniformity and precision.

The choreographed procession, led by a riderless horse, is one of the most solemn and stylized rituals in the nation. Continue reading »

COMMENTS LEFT ON FREE TO A GOOD HOME

gam47 writes:
2/23/2016 12:42 AM EST

The British Army who maintains a substantial number of horses in its Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and its mounted band; The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, maintains a retirement home for this animals at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Centre at Melton Mowbray. Which is a popular attraction for tourists. The animals are extremely well care for, do no work unless they want to, it amazing to see them quietly queue up to get saddled up for rides. Many live another ten-15 years in those green fields, where they die a humane death.

Laurie E Knight writes:
2/22/2016 11:20 PM EST

I have 2 horses with Navicular, both managed well. 1 is still rideable and has a job. He does not realize he has “a disease”. The other is 28 and is retired from riding but is extremely happy and healthy. Send Quincy to California. We’ll take him and honor him for his service.

Nicole Birkholzer writes:
2/22/2016 1:25 PM EST

“…free to a lucky owner …” makes me cringe. Sounds a lot like what happens to veterans “Thanks for the service, now we no longer care for you.” They should offer the horses to a veterans program and pay hay and maintenance (hoof and vet care) until death…that would be meaningful.