You would think that these horses would be supported by the military in retirement!
http://www.wcvb.com/news/military-horses-used-at-arlington-natl-cemetery-up-for-adoption/38142438
Sorry, I missed that this had been posted already. Still ashamed that our military won’t support a navicular horse and a horse that kicks, after a decade of service honoring fallen warriors.
You’re mad that they’re looking for retirement homes for their horses? Its not like they’re sending them off to the glue factory.
And the QH with navicular? Not like he’s going to get a good home. With all the money or government wastes, you’d think they could retire these horses to a good pasture. Note: The queen of England gives retirement homes to her horses and to police horses.
Have any of you BEEN to Arlington? There’s not much in the way of room. Boarding – even retirement board – in the area is pricey and generally not available close-in.
And most of these horses (yes, even a navicular QH … I have a 23yo client who was diagnosed at age 12 who is still doing light work with a little extra TLC) can still be useful in a less rigorous job; they generally are retired because continuing in the job is no longer in their best interest. There is a strong market for them and a lot of competition to adopt them.
The horses aren’t given away willy-nilly to any yahoo; the screening is extensive and sometimes a horse is not adopted because the panel that reviews applications doesn’t see the right match. In such a case, the horses stay where they are. And for those that do get to adopt a horse, the follow-up is quite ruthless.
I know someone who adopted one (an awesome pleasure driving and trail horse despite having arthritic issues that were aggravated by the demands on the caisson horses), and three other people who have applied repeatedly and not been considered the best match yet, despite being experienced and conscientious owners.
[QUOTE=JustTheTicket;8543130]
You’re mad that they’re looking for retirement homes for their horses? Its not like they’re sending them off to the glue factory.[/QUOTE]
I bet if they don’t find the horses a home they will humanely euthanize them . Or what do you think they will do with them if no homes come forward?
[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;8543137]
And the QH with navicular? Not like he’s going to get a good home. With all the money or government wastes, you’d think they could retire these horses to a good pasture. Note: The queen of England gives retirement homes to her horses and to police horses.[/QUOTE]
I wish we were anywhere near that humane. States in the European Union prohibit to large degree the inhumane practices legal here in the US of factory farms makes your skin crawl how it’s legal to treat animals like that (in fact the USA has GAG AG laws in a number of states making it a criminal act to document animal abuse on a farm. ( reading a good book on it called “The Animal Farm Project”)
[QUOTE=Countrywood;8543163]
I bet if they don’t find the horses a home they will humanely euthanize them . Or what do you think they will do with them if no homes come forward?[/QUOTE]
So then they euthanize them. I just didn’t understand the outrage about the horses being offered for adoption. My point was that they aren’t in danger of being shipped to the meat man if they don’t find a home right now.
[QUOTE=Wicky;8543122]
You would think that these horses would be supported by the military in retirement!
http://www.wcvb.com/news/military-horses-used-at-arlington-natl-cemetery-up-for-adoption/38142438
Sorry, I missed that this had been posted already. Still ashamed that our military won’t support a navicular horse and a horse that kicks, after a decade of service honoring fallen warriors.[/QUOTE]
This is one of the silliest posts I’ve read lately.
If you want to apply, apply. If you don’t, don’t. Don’t excoriate an organization about which you clearly know nothing.
G.
CDR, USNR(Ret)
The only thing that bothers me about this is that every non horsey friend on FB keeps posting this to my wall asking me if I’ll take them :lol:
Seriously, how is this any different than a rescue screening homes and adopting out an older horse that they’ve taken in?
Our mounted police horses, some of those were carriage horses also, had a mandatory retirement at 15 years old or any time before that if considered unfit for service.
Our riding center had first dibs to those horses, maybe one every year or two.
Those made excellent school horses, half of them intermediate rider horses, not that many were beginner suitable.
We had some still giving lessons at 20+ years old.
My first jumping competition horse was one of those, assigned to me to show right off the police retirement and he was a handful still, but eventually became used to working less intensely.
Those horses don’t sit around calmly all the time, they are fit and well trained and ready for action in a split second.
I see why they would screen who would be a good home and that would not necessarily be some well meaning person that really is a beginner around horses.
Given their history I am sure there will be a benefactor who will ensure they land softly. At least I would guess they have a better shot then the average horse passed along.
With that said, the second photo show a horse that looks very ouchy (I realize it could just be the photo, but given they say they have a horse with navicular…). I wonder if euthanasia is being considered for him?
I would assume they had a vet take a look at the navicular horse and make a judgement call on whether he could still have a good life in another home. If he’s up for adoption, I am sure it means he’s suitable for it.
Good grief, enough with the pearl clutching…
I think that picture might be a little bit deceiving. To me that almost looks like a crabby horse that is tied to the fence and is about to kick the crap out of that barn behind him. Wonder if that’s the one that kicked a few soldiers.
They could certainly work on their photography skills. But aside from that, if I was in the market to buy a new horse, I would be very interested in one of these boys just because of what they have done. 
[QUOTE=toady123;8543204]
Given their history I am sure there will be a benefactor who will ensure they land softly. At least I would guess they have a better shot then the average horse passed along.[/QUOTE]
More than that. There are people standing in line, waving their arms and shouting “me, me, me!” As I noted in my earlier post, the platoon receives numerous applications from a range of people for each and every horse that is retired. And they don’t adopt until they have a match that the deciding panel agrees is a perfect match for that particular horse.
I think the original poster’s point lies somewhere along the lines of how I feel about it. I think it’s disgusting.
There are enough privately owned horses that have fallen on hard times and need to be adopted. Horses that have been in service to the flipping government deserve a proper retirement and it’s a damned shame that the government is too stupid to factor that into their calculations.
To me, it appears they give as much shit about their service horses as they do to their veterans. It’s appalling. These horses that have served their country for years should not have to be flogged to the general public. They should either be properly retired under the care of the state, or they should be euthanized if not suitable to live a quiet retirement life.
[QUOTE=coloredhorse;8543339]
More than that. There are people standing in line, waving their arms and shouting “me, me, me!” As I noted in my earlier post, the platoon receives numerous applications from a range of people for each and every horse that is retired. And they don’t adopt until they have a match that the deciding panel agrees is a perfect match for that particular horse.[/QUOTE]
Where are these people when rescue horses that haven’t had a perceived prestigious career need adopting?
[QUOTE=sascha;8543342]
To me, it appears they give as much shit about their service horses as they do to their veterans. It’s appalling. These horses that have served their country for years should not have to be flogged to the general public. They should either be properly retired under the care of the state, or they should be euthanized if not suitable to live a quiet retirement life.[/QUOTE]
They seem to get retired at about 17. They still have a good (likely)10 - 15 years ahead of them. Have you never had a horse that enjoys working? You’re recommending that a horse in basically the prime of it’s life be euthanized just because it can’t adjust to being tossed in a field and retired. What a short sighted and ridiculous view.
For a Caisson horse to qualify for adoption they need to be at least 17 years of age or have 10 years of service. At that point, the unit’s veterinarian will suggest if the horse should be considered for adoption.
Those interested in adoption have 60 days to submit an application. A board is assembled by The Old Guard to match the horses with proper owners to ensure they go to the best homes.
“I feel so strongly about these horses finding the right owners,” said Wisely. “I wish I could adopt the entire barn, but I know I can’t afford that.”
The horses will go free to two lucky new owners, but the vetting process is strict. Smith said that a herd manager from the Army will travel to prospective homes to make sure the horses find suitable places to spend the rest of their days.
2 sources.
Yeah that sure sounds like “being flogged to the public” to me. They have stricter adoption policies than most rescues.
[QUOTE=Sabino;8543338]
I think that picture might be a little bit deceiving. To me that almost looks like a crabby horse that is tied to the fence and is about to kick the crap out of that barn behind him. Wonder if that’s the one that kicked a few soldiers.
They could certainly work on their photography skills. But aside from that, if I was in the market to buy a new horse, I would be very interested in one of these boys just because of what they have done. :)[/QUOTE]
You may be right.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/retired-guard-caisson-horses-adoption/story?id=37117752
That has labeled pictures and if they’re correct, the navicular horse is the top one. Kickie McGee is the bottom one.
Quincy is 11-year-old Quarter Horse whose service was cut short after being diagnosed with navicular disease, which causes lameness in his front feet and makes him sensitive to walking on hard ground. Kennedy is 15-year-old Standardbred who was forced to retire because he kicked a few soldiers with his back legs.
Another article, more pictures: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/free-to-a-good-home-horses-who-have-served-their-country/2016/02/21/3de74d3a-d4f6-11e5-9823-02b905009f99_story.html
[QUOTE=sascha;8543342]
Horses that have been in service to the flipping government deserve a proper retirement and it’s a damned shame that the government is too stupid to factor that into their calculations. [/QUOTE]
They ARE getting a proper retirement. That’s the whole point of the applications for them to retire properly instead of spending their declining years at the stabling in Arlington. Have you been there? I have.
And just imagine the outrage, the screaming, hysterical outrage if President Obama announced that he was going to use taxpayer money to fund a retirement home for horses.
[QUOTE=Anne FS;8543435]
They ARE getting a proper retirement. That’s the whole point of the applications for them to retire properly instead of spending their declining years at the stabling in Arlington. Have you been there? I have.
And just imagine the outrage, the screaming, hysterical outrage if President Obama announced that he was going to use taxpayer money to fund a retirement home for horses.[/QUOTE]
I’d be mad myself if they just euthanized them without offering them.
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