Back in May we reported on the 45-day pause on the use of military horses during cemetery services at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Arlington is where the US military bury fallen soldiers; assassinated president John F. Kennedy is also buried there, among other notable interments.
In our initial report we wrote about how it was the death of two horses that forced the pause in horse-drawn funerals, while the remaining horses were sent to rehab. Soon after, the 45-day break was extended to a full year upon the recommendation of a veterinarian following initial treatments. The horses were also shipped to rehab facilities with the knowledgeable staff and specialized equipment to handle their various soundness and pain issues. The treatments have included different types of treadmills including water and vibration types that aid with healing processes and strengthening.
In a recent CBS news report, Maj. Beth Byles, an equine vet with Arlington, told how when treating a horse named George, the animal buckled under the pain and collapsed, a reaction she called shocking. “When I touched George’s neck, he fell to his knees, which is a very abnormal response in any horse,” says Maj. Byles. “And I’ve never encountered such a painful horse.” She went on to say that all of the animals were suffering from severe musculoskeletal injuries and neck pain.