After Arlington National Cemetery horse deaths, Army makes changes to improve their care

By TARA COPP
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army has announced changes to the way it will care for the gray and black horses that carry service members’ flag-draped caskets to their final resting places in Arlington National Cemetery. This comes after the deaths last year of two horses in the ceremonial unit exposed their poor living conditions. Both horses had to be euthanized after suffering from impacted colons, which an investigation traced to poor-quality hay and the horses ingesting sand and gravel. Maj. Gen. Allan Pepin is the commanding general of the Military District of Washington. He says the Army has been able to improve the horses’ diets, and regular veterinary bloodwork shows they are making progress.