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Chapter 8 MILITARY EQUINE PROGRAMS Military Equine Programs Chapter 8 MILITARY EQUINE PROGRAMS CHERYL D. SOFALY, DVM, MS*; DALE R. BEEBE, DVM, MS+; JASON R. CRAWFORD, DVM, MPH‡; AND NOLAN A. WATSON, MLA¥ INTRODUCTION HISTORICAL USE OF EQUINES IN WARFARE Equine Procurement and Care in the American Military in the 18th and 19th Centuries Equine Procurement and Care in the American Military of the 20th and 21st Centuries CURRENT MILITARY USE OF EQUINES Equine Units Maintained for Training Equine Units Reformed to Preserve History and Dignity Equine Units Reformed to Support Human Well-Being ROLE OF VETERINARY OFFICERS IN MILITARY EQUINE HEALTH SUMMARY *Colonel, Veterinary Corps, US Army; Director, Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Service, 1219 Knight Street, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 78236 +Lieutenant Colonel, Veterinary Corps, US Army; Command Veterinarian, US Army Special Operations Command, 2929 Desert Storm Drive, Building E-3525, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28310 ‡Major, Veterinary Corps, US Army; Resident, Veterinary Pathology, Joint Pathology Center, 606 Stephen Sitter Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 ¥Army Medical Department Regimental Historian, Army Medical Department Center of History and Heritage, Medical Command, 2748 Worth Road, Suite 28, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234; formerly, Branch Historian, Military Police Corps, US Army Military Police School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri 65473 207 Military Veterinary Services “Look back on our struggle for freedom, Trace our present day’s strength to its source; And you’ll find that man’s pathway to glory Is strewn with the bones of a horse.” —Author unknown INTRODUCTION No other animal has proven itself more meri- To this day, horses and mules continue to serve toriously in battle, nor borne the high cost of war humbly and gracefully in many capacities. They lend throughout the ages than the horse. The stories of dignity to time-honored ceremonies, serve soldiers’ horses’ valor and sacrifice have largely gone unher- needs on the battlefield, and help train the next gen- alded through time. Yet these loyal, stoic, and gentle eration of warriors. Thus, it is fitting that the US Army creatures capture our imagination like none other equine’s contributions to military service are honored can. In this modern age, horses are primarily used in this chapter, which focuses on the history of the for more leisurely pursuits; however, the qualities mule and horse in recent military conflicts, outlines that are highly prized by competitive equestrians the contributions that equines make to US service today—speed, endurance, intelligence, and cour- members, and describes the role that military person- age—owe their origins to ancestors bred for the nel and veterinarians play in the long-term care of this battlefield. valuable resource. HISTORICAL USE OF EQUINES IN WARFARE The use of horses in conquest and warfare stretches battle. Draft animals were not typically regarded in the back through the centuries. In all likelihood, horses same romantic sense as classic mounts for battlefield were employed in military actions shortly after their maneuver. Nevertheless, they frequently engaged in domestication, generally agreed by scholars to have battle and were often specifically targeted by enemy been between 4000 and 3500 bce.1,2,3 A horse’s agility, forces to disrupt supply routes, win materiel that was speed, and ability to move great distances in less time in a critical shortage, deny resupply to friendly forces, than conventional foot soldiers vastly changed the and plunder for personal gain. battlefield tactics of military commanders throughout the world. In battle, a horse’s very presence projected Equine Procurement and Care in the American fear into an opposing force while simultaneously Military in the 18th and 19th Centuries bolstering confidence within its rider’s ranks (ie, the horse is one of the earliest methods of effective psy- American Revolution to the Mexican War chological warfare). Cavalry tactics were developed as early as 1250 bce by the Assyrians and continued As the fledgling American Army formed to secure well into the 20th century, when advances in mod- freedom for the colonists, there was definitely a need ern technology, specifically mobile armor and light for horses. Developing a system of acquiring and machine guns, rendered the horse’s service largely maintaining the animals’ health was more complicat- impractical for large-scale, direct engagement with ed. Many Revolutionary War officers and members of enemy armies.4 In addition to using horses in cavalry dragoon units entered service with their own mounts. force campaigns, draft horses, mules, and donkeys Although there were allotments for these personal contributed to ancient war efforts by carrying the animals used in service, the increasing demand for supplies, baggage, and implements needed to lay equines to support artillery and supply efforts re- siege to enemy fortifications. quired additional horses to be brought into service. Napoleon and Frederick the Great are credited with These larger draft horses needed for military service the adage, “An army marches on its stomach.” Draft were usually not selected or removed from a family animal power gave their armies advantages during farm. As the war progressed, they were purchased for movements: an extension to the geographical range Army use at various auctions or through designated of a well-supplied army and an extended sustain- suppliers.5 Once either privately owned or purchased ment of a military campaign. These “baggage trains” animals started their service, their owners and units required incredible coordination of movement to route received allowances for their animal’s forage from supplies to the correct area at the critical moment of newly appointed quartermasters.6 208 Military Equine Programs Not very much is known about the examination of to immobilize battered limbs, or given experimental animals purchased for early Army use, nor about those concoctions of “medicinal material.”10(p37) Vinegar and that were brought into service by their owners. Horses purgatives were popular remedies. Continual troop were a part of everyday life in the colonies and were movement also caused problems, and an official no- fairly plentiful; mules were not common. Horses were tification was ordered to end the use of horses being often cared for by their owners, although some animals worn down “very cruelly, by riding them extremely were specially attended to by farriers. During this hard on all occasions.”7(p112) Limited and improper for- time, farriers did not simply shoe horses, they spent age led to starvation in some cases. the majority of their time with these animals and were At the end of the Revolutionary War, horses also often charged with providing care and advice for remained an important component in Americans’ horse ailments and injuries. Horse maintenance was transportation, commerce, and investments. In the their vocation. early 1800s, Congress was still receiving requests Similar to human health of the 18th century, animal for compensation for personal horses injured or lost medicine was rudimentary and still developing; hence, during the American Revolution.11 Farriers also were knowledge of disease causes and formal education included in future plans for the small American Army, about equine health was unknown in America. (For but very few were needed. more information about the evolution of veterinary By the 1830s, the job titles used for and education of education, veterinary services in the military, and farriers began changing, including references to farri- historic military equine missions, see also Chapter 1, ers as “veterinary surgeons.”12(p1) At the same time, ani- Military Veterinary Support Before and After 1916.) mal care publications began to receive more attention Dr Everett B. Miller, author of the journal article within the United States. These journals and booklets “Veterinary-Farriery Services in the Continental Army were slightly more scientific than previous manuals April 1775–May 1777,” describes the farriers of the of the 1700s and tended to blend the traditional trade American Revolution as “uneducated [due to the lack duties of farriers (eg, shoeing and grooming) with of a veterinary university in America], but not necessar- more in-depth and learned veterinary skills (eg, disease ily unskilled,” as there was usually an apprenticeship prevention and animal health functions and remedies). system in place.7(p106) Even so, there was still no formal veterinary education As far as can be determined, the position of US system in place in America, and the titles “farrier” and Army farrier is first mentioned in a letter from Gen- “veterinary surgeon” were often wrongly confused eral George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, the newly or used interchangeably as synoymns12 (Figure 8-1). designated commander of a “Regiment of Horse” (ie, The reinstatement of dragoon units in the 1830s cavalry).8 The letter, dated December 16, 1776, out- expanded military farrier use. Because the units lines the composition of the unit and its requirement depended on the health of their mounts, commands for farriers.8 Subsequent dragoon and cavalry units increased the scrutiny of their animal caretakers. As would follow the letter’s instruction and maintain the described in the 1835 General Regulations for the requirement for farriers.8 Later, on January 16, 1777, Army, Inspector General reports were to record the General Washington wrote a similar letter of instruc- competency of veterinary surgeons (the term “farrier” tion providing for farriers in support of artillery units.9 was also used) to determine if “horses were shod in The requirement for Continental Army farriers the proper manner…,” and if the farriers were able to mirrored that of the British Army, which used farriers observe disease, “…especially the glanders….”13(p135) in uniformed service. American Army farriers could Six months after the War with Mexico ended in Au- be in uniform or contracted employees often directly gust of 1848, Congress approved the “hire of veterinary hired by the local commander.
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