From rubber mats to nearby areas, Army horse equipment has been improved.
Arlington National Cemetery – At 6:30am, fertilizer shovel rubs and horse hoof shuffles echoed through the red brick stables in Fort. Meyer. Soldiers in caisson detachments in blue jeans, black shirts and white cowboy hats crushed the food stall. Kennedy, Lance and Truman – a statuesque, dark horse – thrust his head between the steel bars.
The unit is on the last day of practice, preparing for the return on June 2nd, carrying the army dead to the grave by a horse-drawn caisson wagon.th century. USA Today has access to soldiers, facilities and horses from Caison Detachment, part of the Army 3rd The infantry regiment, known as the “old security guards,” is one of the final rehearsals.
“It’s been two years since I attended the funeral,” said Lt. Col. Jason Crawford, a veterinarian and former rodeo rider who directs the unit. “We’re regaining those muscle memories.”
For decades, soldiers have been offering caissons and funerals in cemeteries. The wagon once carried supplies to the front and brought downed troops home. It stopped in May 2023 after two horses, Mickey and Tony, died after eating gravel. Army investigations found that four horses died in a year, the army flocks aged, and training and facilities were outdated.
Since then, the Army has spent more than $28 million on stable upgrades, horse rehabilitation, buying new young people, and hiring professionals to advise on care and training. From rubber mats to hooves to custom-made saddles, their equipment has been improved, from rubber mats to custom-made saddles for their backs.
Caisson Detachment passed its first major test in January, transporting former President Jimmy Carter’s cas to the White House during state funerals. Over the next few months, soldiers adapted their horses to vehicles and people visiting the winding hills of Arlington National Cemetery, as well as the country’s finest military burial sites.
Army officials believe that two soldiers and horses are trained so that two caisson funerals can be held in a day. That number increases as more soldiers and horses are trained.
It wasn’t all smooth. Earlier this spring, something scared the horse, bolting about 100 yards before a few people could control it. Army spokesman Major Wes Strickland said the soldier’s legs had broken and one horse needed rest to recover from the chaos.
And, in the opinion of an influential senator, the Army should have suspended its old traditions. Sen. Tom Cotton, a veteran old security guard who helped hold the Army funeral as a young officer, said in an interview that while improving the caisson program was appropriate, the funeral tradition was “sad and frustrating” that it was interrupted for two years.
“The Caisson Platoon has been running for decades without closing, and frankly, the horses have been pulling wagons since the dawn of history,” Cotton said. “This is not a complicated task.”
He said the Army should take good care of the horses and accept that some people will be injured or killed.
“We must be realistic for the horse to die and the horse to be injured,” Cotton said. “That’s the nature of the work they do. Like the elite horses on the racecourse, we want to look after these horses. And I can promise that no one will train with them and care better about these horses than the young jockey soldiers who have lived with them for years.”
Soldiers in the squad appear enthusiastic about caring for horses. They squeeze poop from the stall into a wheelbarrow, wipe out the final wooden chips from the aisle, and place fresh bedding. The soft and soothing words of horses and horses and pat are soft and soothing.
Sergeant. Natalie Silva, 23, went through a morning ritual. Stalls were cleaned, bowls of water were buried, hay was raised, and horses were inspected for bumps and cuts. She grew up in Gillette, grew up around Wyoming horses, and enjoys spending time with them.
Lance is her favorite. “I and he have a connection,” she said. She scratched Lance’s neck and once found a mite.
Along the way, Truman was spreading out of the wood shavings from his bed.
“I know he’ll work for a few hours. You have to be patient with him. He can get mad in the morning,” Private 1 said.st Class Joshua Allen, 19, from Houston. “We’ll get him ready for the mission right away.”
Soldiers like Allen and Silva apply for caisson separation. About half of the candidates will interview, throw a hay bale and make a cut after calming down with the horse. After that, the training will begin. A 12-week basic equestrian course is followed by a six-week boot camp at the Equestrian Sports Facility in Ocala, Florida.
The horse experience is great, but not necessary, Sgt. said. 1st Crust lever carlin. Approximately two-thirds of the soldiers in the unit, including Allen, did not grow around them. He asks questions and searches for soldiers he wants to learn. Core strength is also important. Carin said because the soldiers need to guide the horse while maintaining an upright position.
“We need very independent, super fit soldiers,” he said.
Soldiers like Staff Sergeant. Isaac Melton. He led the rehearsals and advanced ahead of what is called a section hose. It was a 5-year-old Truman, who finally saw him relax at his food stall. Now Truman was tall and had a heart of gold on his chest.
All business.
“Truman and I have similar personalities,” said Melton, 34, of Mackenzie, Louisiana.
Joint base Meyer Henderson Hall is adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. Melton took Truman and the Caisson team through the gate into the shade of oak trees that lined up above a row of white marble gravestones. Tow a caisson along with six horses and three riders.
At a moderate pace of walking, the horse clipped up the hill past the Arlington home.th Century Home was erected as a memorial to George Washington and later inherited by Robert E. Lee. Tourists took photos and horses were pushed against them.
Melton stopped the queue with a shady stretch, a rest area designated by a green metal hitching post for horses. The unit is ready to hold a funeral, he said.
“100%,” Melton said. “We’ve been trained for a long time, and we don’t turn the stones over. Every day, the horses get a little more calm. They’re in their own vibe.”
In the stable after a practice run, soldiers washed their horses under fans hanging from the roof of their gables. They cleaned and stowed the equipment, and Kennedy bites at Freshhay.
Cotton, who oversaw the funeral as an officer, said the Caisson ceremony had special significance for fallen relatives. The first funeral with Caisson is limited to troops, Medal of Honor, or POW Medals, and high-ranking service members who were killed during the action.
The approximately 25 service members who the family had been waiting for during the two-year suspension are also taken to the grave by Caissons.
“That’s something I think those family moments will become even more moments,” Cotton said.
