![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Arlington-National-Cemetery-300x176.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
You may recall that last year the Pentagon announced they would be suspending the ‘horse’ units’ operations this year. The Military Working Equid program (and you know the Army can’t resist an acronym – MWE) previously had 326 horses, donkeys, and mules at 5 units on various posts. The Army has announced they will keep two of the units, at Ft.\u00a0 Almost all are used largely for ceremonial roles, tied to specific units\u2019 history and heritage. The planned elimination of the MWE program did not include the horses used by the 3rd Infantry Regiment, or \u201cthe Old Guard,\u201d operating at Arlington National Cemetery and Joint Base San Antonio.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cThese programs provide unique capabilities and benefits that are difficult to replicate, and their continuation aligns with our broader commitment to readiness and community engagement,\u201d Col. James Fuhriman, the assistant deputy for Army health affairs, said in a release.\u00a0\u00a0Task & Purpose<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Army did not say why leadership decided to keep the programs active at Fort Hood and Fort Riley specifically. However the two bases\u2019 programs are being \u201cformally established as Army programs and serve as a link between the Army and the American people through public demonstrations, educational outreach, and participation in local events.\u201d<\/p>\n The U.S. Army\u2019s history with horses and other equines is long, even stretching into the 21st century. Soldiers used horses well into World War II and Special Forces teams rode horses while fighting alongside the Northern Alliance in the initial invasion of Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n Note that this does not affect the Old Guard, who resumed general horse-drawn funerals 9 months ago. Especially in Washington, the Army just spent two years and a boatload of dollars since 2022 to reset the program and upgrade facilities after administrations over the last few decades let them deteriorate. The rules have been changed for caisson usage at funerals, too. Per spox MAJ John W. Strickland in the caisson funerals recommenced::<\/p>\n Trivia note: The first introduction of the newly -trained ‘modern’ caisson units was for Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Have to admit, personally. horses and I are not best buds in person. But there is little on this Earth as beautiful as a running horse (I have also been known to say the horses ploughing through the snow in “Silverado” may be one of the most beautiful movie scenes ever shot.)\u00a0 And, as too many of us know, the solemnity and emotional impact of that caisson bearing the coffin going by, or worse, stopping where you are waiting,\u00a0 is just hard to describe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cavazos<\/del> Hood and Ft. Riley.<\/p>\nMWE programs at Fts. Huachuca, Irwin, and Sill are still shutting down.<\/div>\n\n
\n\n
Caisson funerals will be limited basis to two per day and up to 10 per week. \u201cThis is not the same program. It has been completely rebuilt,\u201d Strickland said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nWhen service resumes, horse-drawn processions will be limited to service members killed in action, Medal of Honor or Prisoner of War Medal recipients, senior noncommissioned officers (E-9), senior warrant officers (CW-5) and senior commissioned officers (O-6 and above).\u00a0\u00a0Stars and Stripes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTo vastly improve living conditions for horses, the Army sought the help of the best in the field, bringing in an Olympic gold medal-winning equestrian David O\u2019Connor and qualified equestrian care expert Jim Westbrook.\u00a0\u00a0Army.mil<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n