Arlington's caisson horses do double duty in riding program

WAPO ^ | 25 Dec 2009 | T. Rees Shapiro

[shove_it]

A stronger blast, a little less luck, and the horse that Marine Sgt. Michael Blair is riding down an Arlington County trail could easily be pulling his coffin.

"It's an honor riding these horses, knowing what they do," he said.

The horses that Blair rides in a rehabilitation program for wounded service members also pull the caissons that carry fallen troops for burial at Arlington National Cemetery. At times, Blair rides them along the same road, turning and heading back to the barn before reaching the cemetery.

~snip~

[photo gallery at link]

[IrishCatholic]

Excellent post.
Screen seems a bit blurry though. I should clean it.

[Daffynition]

A well decorated family member is buried at Arlington. We had the privilege of attending his burial. To see the caisson ceremony "live" is a most humbling, rememberable experience.

To all those who give so much. Thank you. We honor you.

Thousands of Christmas wreaths are nestled against headstones in Section 27 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Dec. 15, 2005. Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Arlington to place more than five thousand donated Christmas wreaths on head stones in the cemetery. The 14th annual wreath laying event is a result of Worcester Wreath Company owner Morrill Worcester's boyhood dream of doing something to honor those laid to rest in the National Cemetery. DoD photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

[ASOC]

Something bout the outside of a horse that does the inside of a man some good...

Perfect day - warm, sunny and on the back of a horse....

[vetvetdoug]

The Army needs to keep at least a company of cavalry and one of horse drawn artillery. I was recruited by the Army back in 1990 to work at Ft. Dietrich and the Old Guard because of my background in horse drawn artillery and microbiology. A friend of mine was hired in the early 2000's to come and evaluate the harness that was being used by the Old Guard and made some startling revelations and changes in the equipment that was for the betterment of the horses and the procedures with respect to tack. He said had I been there ten years earlier I'd fixed it then but as life had it I couldn't get into the Army at the time. Mounted artillery and cavalry IMO brings pride and esprit de corps up to a higher level no matter how wonderful technology gets.

[shove_it]

VVDoug-

I agree with you and apparently so do the brass who are authorizing beasts of burden in Stan. As far as the tack at Ft. Myer, you may want to pursue the issue at the Old Guard:

http://www.army.mil/info/organization/unitsandcommands/commandstructure/theoldguard/specplt/caisson.htm

[vetvetdoug]

My close friend, Doug Kidd, went to the Old Guard and made some recommendations that corrected many of the things with respect to saddles and harness. You see, the Old Guard was using 1940’s McClellan saddles made for a horse with a less of a back, ie thoroughbred/arab crosses. The Old Guard used Percheron, Shires, and large draft horses who have wide backs and the older saddles were gouging into the lumbar muscles. The saddles they are using now have a wider bar stance and don't hurt the backs of the drafts at the Old Guard. There was also a matter of runaways while pulling the caissons. It was a matter of a piece of equipment that over the years had been neglected and forgotten and when Doug saw it he had them start using it again..the piece acted as the brakes for the wheel team, without it the control over the caisson was far less. I was proud of Doug, he made the saddle and tack they used for the riderless horse for Reagan's funeral. General Wainwright always said that the Army would regret having gotten rid of all of the cavalry...someone needed to pass the knowledge on to the new troopers.

[Cloverfarm]

Excellent article. Therapeutic riding benefits both children and adults in so many ways. My great aunt in Virginia used to send me clippings about Black Jack, the horse in JFK’s funeral (and probably many others)

[csvset]

Nice article.

[shove_it]

You will enjoy this personal account by Art Carlson, the soldier who handled Black Jack that memorable day:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2143214/posts

[Cloverfarm]

Thanks for the linkie — great story. I knew Black Jack was a handful and it sounds like Carlson did a good job handling him.

I enjoyed the other fellows’ accounts, too.

[shove_it]

You’re welcome. Glad you liked them.