Army's Old Guard horses suffer poor living conditions, report finds after 2 died

[Sherman A1]

An Army report covered by CNN this week revealed that military horses serving as pall-bearers for Arlington National Cemetery have been suffering poor-living conditions, with one horse recently dying in February with 44 pounds of gravel and sand in his stomach.

The report was compiled in February by the U.S. Army’s Public Health Command-Atlantic after two horses with the Old Guard — known for guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — died within days of each other.

A lack of space, inadequate funding and the turnover of unit commanders were noted as the primary issues. The horses were fed poor-quality feed, suffered parasite infestations and lived in excrement-filled mud lots.

More than a dozen inspections conducted between 2019 and 2022 gave the horse facilities “unsatisfactory” sanitary ratings, despite supposed efforts made by the soldiers of Caisson Platoon, who train and care for the horses, the report found, according to CNN.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/2022/04/07/armys-old-guard-horses-suffer-poor-living-conditions-report-finds-after-2-died/

[DURHAM D]

1. There is a special place in hell for the care givers. nt

[Sanity Claws]

2. That's awful!

If they can't take care of the horses, then close the unit and put the horses up for adoption.

[Frustratedlady]

3. Positively shameful. Can't someone be charged for animal cruelty?

There is no excuse that they didn't have 1st class care and attention.

[TomSlick]

9. Someone(s) can be charged with criminal dereliction of duty.

Article 92(3), UCMJ.

[Historic NY]

4. Wow now that is depressing, I've been to the stables at Fort Myers several

times, it was always well-kept, and the tack was cared for. The horses were treated royally. WTH happened. The old retired one are passed off to caretakers and require a rigid investigation of how they will spend their retirement. How are they being pastured? I know the ground at the base is precious but fields with sandy consistency is the path to sand colic which will kill them. They yanks out grass & roots, and ingest the sand. Spreading hay in fields can also lead to it. Are they using sand & gravel to fill in muddy areas. A vet should be able to correct this.

http://horsehints.org/CaissonHorses.htm]

[Celerity]

5. one horse recently dying in February with 44 pounds of gravel and sand in his stomach

[lastlib]

6. So when TDFG's funeral comes up, all they'll have is weak dirty old nags...

pulling his coffin.....that's appropos, I suppose.

OTOH, I despise the maltreatment of horses. - - -

[I_UndergroundPanther]

8. Those poor horses

There is no words,and there are no excuses for this shit.

[intheflow]

10. These horses could be living a charmed life

in the countryside at Manassas National Battlefield Park, 20 miles away. One week on, commuting to work daily, one week off, grazing peacefully all day and adding ambiance for the tourists. This is utterly disgraceful. No indication how long it's been going on, but considering the unsatisfactory ratings started in 2019, it wouldn't surprise me if severe budget reallocation (or even outright skimming) by Team 45 struck these poor horses.

[burrowowl]

13. I agree

I'm a great admirer of A. Roy!

[Farmer-Rick]

11. Leave it to the Trump administration to not even be able

to muck out stalls. What a bunch of bafoons. TFG thought his job was to be king when he really was.suppose to be mucking out stalls.

[StarryNite]

12. There is NO excuse for that.

None!

[Raine]

14. TERRIBLE, these horses deserve so much better! 🤬 nt