The use of horse-drawn caissons for military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia) has resumed on a limited basis, according to numerous reports.

This comes after a two-year suspension of the traditional service by the Army Caisson Platoon following the deaths of two of its horses. A full-scale investigation into issues regarding the caisson horses’ health, housing and care ensued.

Since that time, the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (the “Old Guard”) has overhauled the entire caisson program. Among the changes: updated and enhanced training of both horses and soldiers, revisions to the traditional equipment, and the purchase of younger horses to replace those that have been retired.

The unit has also been working to secure more suitable offsite accommodations for those horses not on immediate duty.

Equine well-being a priority

Old Guard representatives have explained that their goal, going forward, is to prioritize equine well-being. To this end, they have received input and assistance from the likes of the American Horse Council, Olympic gold medal-winning equestrian David O’Connor and horse driving expert Jim Westbrook.

According to an April 18 Army News Service article by Joe Lacdan, the Army currently has three fully-trained, 11-horse caisson squads (seven of the horses in each squad typically participate in the ceremonies, with four as backups). The plan, per the article, is to have the squads operate in cycles, with each one servicing up to two funerals a day for a maximum of 10 services a week.

Schedule increases expected

At this stage, the caisson service will reportedly be reserved for officers ranked O-6 and above, senior warrant officers and senior noncommissioned officers. Families on the waitlist for the past two years will receive priority.

The Old Guard hopes to gradually increase the number of caisson services performed each day while its stables and paddocks at Fort Myer (Arlington), constructed more than a century ago, undergo much-needed renovation. Prior to the program’s suspension, the unit maintained a schedule of as many as eight caisson services per day.