Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary is honored to have become a retirement home for former Military Working Horses who served this country with the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard.” In 2024, the unit was transitioned to a detachment. The Caisson Detachment 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 pulls the caisson, or wagon that carries the caskets. There are also section horses who are ridden and positioned to the side of the procession, and in certain cases, a Riderless Horse who follows behind the procession. You can learn more about the Caisson Detachment here.
The Caisson Horses retired at our sanctuary performed different roles in military funerals and have a combined seven 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 Quarter Horse 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. He arrived at the sanctuary on January 18, 2021.
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, 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 Percheron Cross born on May 20, 2001. He served this country faithfully for 12 years and performed in the lead and swing positions. Randy arrived at the sanctuary on April 24, 2023.
Luke
In Loving Memory: Luke sadly passed away on January 22, 2025.
Luke was a Percheron Draft born on May 12th, 1999. He served this country for 15 years and performed as a wheel horse. Luke arrived at Equine Advocates on May 3, 2023.
King
King is a stunning Percheron Draft born in 2002. He served this country for 16 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 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 was retired at Equine Advocates on July 16, 2023.
Amos
Amos, a Percheron Draft, served this country for 14 years with the Caisson Platoon. Because of his sheer size and strength, he almost exclusively served as a wheel horse. 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 positioned directly next to the lead horses, but not connected to the caisson.
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.
