Hubby and I took a train ride up to DC from Florida to visit some family but more to take the train ride --sleeper car for the first time. Very very cool. Sort of a chirstmas gift to ourselves, an adventure, an anniversary gift.
We did the usual things, went up in the Washington monument, ate great food, saw many many sites. Brother in law is a colonel in the marines and works at the pentagon. We got a nice personal tour. At the end of the day, we were on a military base (am at the loss for the name at the moment) right next to Arlington National Cementary. He was showing me the stables when all of a sudden we see a sign that says visitors are welcome between noon and 4. Well, nuff said–we stopped.
The stables are old and well built. The horses are Percherons or draft crosses. Some were out at work, many were in their stalls. There were grays and blacks in the barn. The tack room had saddles. I did not see the harness I thought they would wear.
This photo above shows the saddles from behind with 2 postillion riders.
This shows the caisson from the side.
Not a usual harness as we are used to using.
There was one young marine when I asked him about the horses made me smile. He said most horses were donated, some wee Percherons, some were crosses. One he told me was a Standard (notice not standardbred) and a percheron cross. Then another he said it was standard and morgan. I could not help myself and said–well, maybe but there had to be something else in there, like a draft. He obviously did not know a lot about horse breeds. But I must give him credit for doing a job that must be hard --seeing caskets of young men his age every day sometimes 2 or 3 a day.
One of the caissons there was the one used for Prez. Reagon.
The caisson is actually a cart pulling a trailer cart, not a wagon in the actual sense as we know it to be one unit.
That was the highlight of my trip!!!
