Pleasurehorse.com Honors Memorial Day

The Pleasurehorse.com and Show Horse Today family would like to take a moment to honor those, both human and animal, who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedom of others and serve their country.

One way to honor the fallen is to understand and pay tribute to the military traditions, such as the riderless horse, formally known as a Caparisoned horse.  The riderless horse is often seen in military funeral processions led by two Marines with the boots placed backwards in the stirrups.  There are two significant meanings to the boots.  The first signifies the rider will ride no more.  Second, it is said to symbolize the fallen soldier taking one last look back at their family and the life he or she left behind.  The tradition is still continued today.

There are many notable horses who have had the honor amid tragedy to symbolize the journey of America’s heroes to their final resting place.

Black Jack– A Morgan/Quarter Horse cross foaled in 1947, Black Jack was the Caparisoned horse in President John F. Kennedy’s funeral procession.  He was also the final Quartermaster-issued horse to carry the official U.S. Army Brand and Serial Number. 

Sergeant York– Sergeant York, a former standardbred racer, was named for WWI Sergeant Alvin York.  He became an official military horse in 1997 and carried the boots behind President Ronald Reagan’s casket in the funeral procession.

Old Bob– Old Bob was President Lincoln’s own horse, and made the walk to Lincoln’s final resting place with a black mourning blanket.  This was the first time a Cap horse was used in a presidential funeral.