According to a January 2 announcement from Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary, former U.S. Army Caisson Horse Sergeant York has passed.
A Standardbred gelding originally named Allaboard Jules, he reportedly won five of his 23 races before entering military service in 1997. The Army rechristened him “Sergeant York” in honor of the legendary Alvin York, one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I.
By all accounts, the equine sergeant did his best to live up to his new moniker. He served with distinction for a quarter of a century before being retired to Equine Advocates’ Chatham, New York, facility.
In memoriam
The organization’s Facebook post reads as follows:
“April 25, 1991 – January 1, 2026
“It is with deep sadness and a very heavy heart that I announce Sergeant York, one of the best-known and beloved Caisson Horses of all time, passed away yesterday at Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary, where he had been retired for the past three and a half years. He was 34 years old.
“Sergeant York gained worldwide attention when he performed as the Riderless Horse at the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan in 2004. He served this country with honor for 25 years as a Caisson Horse with the U.S. Army’s Caisson Platoon, performing in thousands of Armed Forces Full Honors Funerals and other official ceremonies.
“He was retired by the Army in 2022 and arrived at the sanctuary on June 12, 2022, where he immediately became a local celebrity and one of our most popular residents. On Veterans Day that same year, New York Governor Kathy Hochul awarded Sergeant York a Special Citation for his quarter-century of loyal service to the country. In March of 2023, he was the recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Service from Animals in War and Peace at an official ceremony on Capitol Hill.”
A peaceful passing
“Prior to his retirement, Sergeant York had been diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis of his stifle joints, which are the largest joints in a horse’s body, located in the hind legs,” the post continued. “It was a condition that we managed since his arrival, knowing that it was degenerative and would worsen over time. Those issues never dampened Sergeant York’s spirits or his zest for life. He adored being the center of attention every day, but it was … the special events we held on Veterans Day, on our Public Open Days, and … the celebrations we threw for him on his birthday each year that he loved the most.
“Sergeant York passed away peacefully, surrounded by those of us who loved and cared for him at the sanctuary. The equine veterinarian who performed his euthanasia, Julia Gloviczki, DVM of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Saratoga Springs, said, ‘…For the past few years, Sergeant York has been aggressively treated for chronic, progressive, degenerative orthopedic disease (significant bilateral stifle joint osteoarthritis). Sadly, despite our best efforts, Sergeant York’s rapidly progressing vestibular (neurologic) signs, compounded with his ongoing orthopedic disease, overcame his ability to rise. The decision was made to humanely euthanize Sergeant York so he would not suffer.’
“This first public announcement of Sergeant York’s passing will be followed by a more extensive obituary next week. On behalf of everyone here at Equine Advocates, I just want to express how much we will miss him. It was an honor to have him here and provide him with lots of love and the care he needed during his well-deserved retirement years.”
~ Susan Wagner
President and Founder [Equine Advocates Rescue & Sanctuary]
About Equine Advocates
Equine Advocates was founded in 1996. Its primary mission is to “rescue, protect [against] and prevent the abuse of equines through education, investigation, rescue operations, the dissemination of information to the public and the operation of a horse sanctuary for slaughter-bound, abused and neglected horses.”
Eight years later, the organization established its sanctuary on a 173-acre farm in upstate New York. According to its website, it is currently home to 80+ rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules—plus two Nigerian Dwarf goats.
Landing page image: Sergeant York during the state funeral of Ronald Reagan in 2004/public domain