Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary is honored to have become a retirement home for six former Military Working Horses who served this country with the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon. The Caisson Platoon of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard,” consists of horses who escort the caskets of fallen service members to their final resting places at Arlington National Cemetery. The horses are paired into three teams – the lead team is in front, the swing team follows, and the wheel team is located closest to the caisson, or wagon that carries the caskets. You can learn more about the Caisson Platoon here.
The Caisson horses who have been retired at the sanctuary all performed different roles in military funerals and have a combined six decades of military service. We’re proud to have them be a part of our family and to offer them safe and loving permanent retirement homes.
MEET THE RETIRED CAISSON HORSES AT EQUINE ADVOCATES
Tyler
Tyler is a Gray Quarter Horse Gelding born on January 14, 2002. For nine years, he performed many important duties with the Caisson Platoon. He was always ridden and performed as a Lead Horse, a Swing Horse, and a Section Horse (The horse ridden and not connected to the wagon, and positioned directly next to the Lead Horses). He arrived at the sanctuary on January 18, 2021.
Learn more about Tyler here.
Sergeant York
Sergeant York gained worldwide attention in 2004 when he was selected to be the Riderless Horse at the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan. He performed that role in thousands of Armed Forces Full Honors Funerals and other official ceremonies. He and Black Jack, the Riderless Horse at the funeral of former President John F. Kennedy in 1963, are the two most famous and beloved Caisson Horses of all time.
Sergeant York was born on April 25, 1991, and is a registered Standardbred who once raced under the name of “Allaboard Jules.” In 1997, thanks to horsewoman Marie Dobrisky and her son Frank, who was a member of the Caisson Platoon at that time, this striking black gelding was donated to the U.S. Army to be trained for military service. He was renamed “Sergeant York” in honor of Alvin C. York, one of the most decorated soldiers in World War I and whose life was immortalized in the award-winning 1941 film of the same name.
Sergeant York’s illustrious career spanned 25 years during which time he inspired and captured the imaginations of fans and admirers across the globe, as well as the appreciation of those military members who were fortunate enough to know and work with him. He arrived at Equine Advocates on June 15, 2022.
Learn more about Sergeant York here.
Randy
Randy is a Dark Bay Percheron Cross Gelding born on May 20, 2001. He served this country faithfully for twelve years and performed in the swing and lead positions. The middle pair in the funeral procession consists of Swing Horses. The front pair in the funeral procession consists of Lead Horses.
Randy arrived at the sanctuary on April 24, 2023. We join countless other Americans in thanking this sweet-tempered former Military Working Horse for his service and are delighted to provide him with a forever retirement home here at the sanctuary.
Learn more about Randy here.
Luke
Luke is a Black Percheron Gelding born on May 12th, 1999. For fifteen years, he served this country with honor as a Military Working Horse. He was ridden as a Wheel Horse, meaning he was one of the horses hitched closest to the funeral caisson, or wagon that pulls the caskets of fallen military members to their final resting places at Arlington National Cemetery. Luke arrived at Equine Advocates on May 3, 2023.
Learn more about Luke here.
King
King is a stunning Black Percheron Draft born in 2002. He served this country for sixteen years with the Caisson Platoon. As a Wheel Horse, King’s job was to help pull the caisson that carried the caskets of U.S. military members who passed away or died in combat designated to be buried with full military honors. Wheel Horses are closest to the caisson wagon and always have a rider on their backs. In addition to his missions in funerals and military ceremonies, King was so calm and dependable that he was also used to help train the next generation of Caisson Horses. He permanently retired at Equine Advocates on July 16, 2023.
Learn more about King here.
Amos
Amos, a Percheron Draft, served this country for fourteen years with the Caisson Platoon. Because of his sheer size and strength, he almost exclusively served as a Wheel Horse, meaning he was one of the horses hitched closest to the funeral caisson, or wagon that pulls the caskets of fallen military members to their final resting places at Arlington National Cemetery. However, because Amos was also such a good riding horse, he occasionally would serve as a Section Horse in military funeral processions. Section Horses are ridden and not connected to the wagon and are positioned directly next to the Lead Horses.
During his years of service, Amos performed in many military funerals and other official ceremonies, including the funeral of General Colin Powell in 2021. He arrived at Equine Advocates on November 9, 2023.
Learn more about Amos here.
