[QUOTE=Guilherme;8544662]
The criticism is based upon that witch’s brew of ignorance and emotion.
These horses are U.S. property. That being the case they must be “surveyed” (a military term for “disposed of”) IAW certain very specific rules. During the existence of the Horse Cavalry horses were surveyed at about 16 years of age. They were generally sold at public auction and the funds received went back into the General Fund.* If the horse were injured prior to 16 such that it was no longer suitable for military use but had commercial value it would also be sold at auction. In general these horses were desirable as they were quite well trained. If a horse were lamed or otherwise unfit for any service they would be likely euthanized. I suspect that at least some were sold at auction and ended up in slaughter pens. In those days that would not have been an issue.
I don’t have access to the Army regulations covering the surveying of these horses. I’ll presume the unit is properly following them; a failure to do so would be very bad for the C.O. And this IS a high profile unit.
There are at least six other Army mounted, ceremonial units that I’m aware of. There are also Artillery and Wagon horses and mules on some posts. They would likely fall under the same general rules as the Old Guard. The Marines maintain at mounted color guard at Barstow.
We might also note that horses are donated to all these units. I don’t know of any that are purchased, although some might be. I’d have to ask a couple of unit commanders just how they get them. As with all “donated” horses they get some good ones and they get some real problems.
The Marines get theirs from the BLM, IIRC.
There is a mountain warfare school in CA where they have horses and mules and teach classes in packing. They may be adding some riding instruction based upon experience in Afghanistan. When these animals are surveyed they would have to follow their rules.
G.
*There is a movie called “Pursuit of Honor” which claims to be “based on fact” but is, sadly, a complete fabrication except for one small item. In that story Gen. MacArthur orders the shooting of 1000 horses in AZ and a heroic young Lt. Don Johnson, along with a couple of others, steals the herd and follows the “outlaw trail” to Canada. The true part of the story begins in DC where the DC Police Chief and Gen. MacArthur have lied to President Hoover about the “bonus marcher camps” claiming that they are dens of iniquity and rife with prostitution, gambling, drinking, drug use, etc. Hoover then orders MacAurthur to remove the marchers and he orders troops, among them a Cavalry regiment, to carry out the removal. Many of the troopers are also WWI vets and very sympathetic to the marchers. Fearing a possible mutiny, the Col. commanding the regiment authorizes any enlisted man who wishes may “fall out” and not carry out the order. There will be no consequence for any man who does so. Many do. The rest move the marchers; that’s the fact. In the film not only do some troopers fall out but also Lt. Johnson. This is “poetic license.” Officers were not permitted to “fall out” in reality. He then gets transferred to AZ in punishment along with his co-stars. From there they go to Canada with 1000 stolen horses. Right.[/QUOTE]
Fort Riley was retiring some of their Color Guard horses a few years ago. Very desirable, broke geldings aged 11-20. As I recall soldiers were given first choice and the remaining ones were put up for adoption. Ultimately the lot of these geldings went to Rock Springs Camp which is the state 4-H camp. The geldings are used for 8 weeks in the summer to give dude ranch type trail rides to 4-H kids. Not a bad deal at all for done special horses.
