Manatee Review

Reps. Vern Buchanan and Earl Blumenauer have initiated a call for an investigation into the alleged mistreatment of horses at Arlington National Cemetery. The two congressmen, who co-chair the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, expressed concern following the deaths of two horses from the 3rd Infantry Regiment’s Caisson Platoon in 2022.

"The abysmal living conditions and maltreatment of these horses, which has led to numerous deaths as well as the suspension of this program meant to honor our fallen service members, is extremely disappointing and concerning," stated Congressman Buchanan. He emphasized the need for a report to investigate potential wrongdoing and find ways to protect the horses while restoring the funeral procession program.

The deaths of Mickey and Tony were attributed to colon impaction, reportedly caused by poor living conditions. These included fields with limited grass that forced horses to ingest sand and gravel. One horse was found with 44 pounds of such material in its gut. Testing revealed nearly 35% of the horses had high levels of parasite eggs in their stool.

The Army suspended horse-drawn funeral processions after these incidents, replacing them with motor vehicles without plans for resumption. This change came amid concerns over inadequate space for the horses, with only enough room for six or seven out of 64 animals.

Buchanan and Blumenauer's letter was also signed by Reps. Chris Smith, Dina Titus, Brian Fitzpatrick, and André Carson. They stressed ensuring honorable burials at Arlington National Cemetery while advocating humane treatment for working horses.

Buchanan is noted for his animal protection efforts in Congress, having introduced legislation like the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act to ban horse slaughter for human consumption. His Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act became federal law in 2019.

In their letter addressed to Comptroller General Dodaro, they requested a Government Accountability Office review on how to resume horse-drawn processions safely. The letter seeks answers on improving conditions that led to Mickey and Tony's deaths and suggests training programs for soldiers caring for these animals.