Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, Caisson Platoon, and the U.S. Army Band conduct military funeral honors with a funeral escort at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., on March 24, 2023. (Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
WASHINGTON — Three soldiers and four horses at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., were injured Monday afternoon during a training exercise, the Army confirmed.
The training accident occurred at about 2 p.m. between soldiers and horses of the Caisson Detachment of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard.” Three horses unseated their riders but did not escape the base, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Patrick Husted said.
“The three soldiers who were unseated received non-life-threatening injuries which required treatment at a local hospital. One soldier underwent surgery and remained at the hospital overnight, while two were released upon completion of treatment,” Husted added.
Four horses also suffered non-life-threatening injuries and have been examined and treated by onsite veterinarians.
“None of the animals needed to be evacuated for higher level care and are expected to fully recover,” Husted said.
One modified caisson wagon was damaged and was moved to the Caisson Detachment motor pool for further evaluation, Husted added. No further details about what happened were provided. The accident remains under investigation.
The caisson platoon of the 3rd Infantry Regiment has carried the caskets of deceased service members to gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., since 1948.
The caisson — a ceremonial wagon that bears the casket — is drawn by four specially trained horses. The processions are considered an integral part of traditional full-honor military funerals at Arlington.
But unsanitary living conditions, malnourishment and a lack of open space for the herd led to the suspension of horse-drawn funerals conducted by the 3rd Infantry Regiment Caisson Platoon in May 2023. The horses were infested with parasites, crowded into small fields filled with manure and construction debris, and suffering from malnutrition from low-quality feed. Two horses died.
Language in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2025 instructs the Army secretary to complete renovations of historic stables that had fallen into disrepair at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. The Army also must ensure equine handlers are trained and certified to manage the herd and take other steps to establish safeguards for the horses’ welfare before caisson services can return.
The unit remains sidelined from Arlington funerals, and the Army has not identified a date when the operations will resume. The Old Guard unit resumed operation in January as part of former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
