The reimplementation of horse-drawn carriage funerals at Arlington National Cemetery has been continually delayed after two male horses died from poor living conditions in 2022 and progress in acquiring and caring for new animals has been slow. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL), who co-chairs the Animal Protection Caucus, is calling for a bipartisan review of the horses' care and living conditions, saying, "Given the honorable, selfless service of those who are being laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery, we must ensure that they receive a proper, honorable burial."
Rep. Buchanan's letter detailed the heartbreakingly poor conditions in which the two deceased horses, named Mickey and Tony, lived before being euthanized in February 2022, noting that "After conducting an investigation, the Army reported that the horses had very little grass in the field in which they lived, forcing many to consume sand and gravel. In fact, one of the horses that was euthanized was found to have had 44 pounds of gravel and sand in his gut, which likely caused his death. Separate testing found that nearly 35% of the horses has "moderate-high" levels of parasite eggs in their stool."
Additionally, the field was overcrowded and filled with construction debris and manure, causing further harm to the horses' welfare. 18 of the 64 animals (stuffed in a field suitable for six or seven) were retired, and the remaining horses are currently being cared for in Virginia, according to the Associated Press in the above link.
Given that six to eight burials qualifying for escort honors are conducted per day, the Army has used hearses instead.
As a result, Rep. Buchanan called for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent study to ensure the Army has improved its care and management for the horses, including where they are kept when not pulling the caissons and how long their service lasts.
"Given the honorable, selfless service of those who are being laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery, we must ensure that they receive a proper, honorable burial. We must also ensure the horses who have worked tirelessly to provide for these brave service members are taken care of in a humane manner," the letter concluded.
The Florida Congressman previously stood up for America's equines in May when he and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) demanded an end to domestic horse slaughter for human consumption.
