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Arlington National Cemetery will extend its suspension of horse-drawn funerals until June 2024 while the Army rehabilitates its troubled working horses program.
The time is needed, officials say, to "reset" the program, which has more than half its horses in rehabilitation.
Fort Myer, Va., May 20, 2014: A member of the Old Guard holds onto three horses hooked up to caissons as other service members bring out additional horses.
The suspension follows four equine deaths in the platoon over the last year-plus and comes amid efforts from the unit and millions in funding from Congress to rectify poor living conditions for the horses.
About to turn 32, military caisson horse Sergeant York resides in an extra-large stall at a sanctuary in New York called Equine Advocates.