NATIONAL DAY OF THE HORSE!

National Day of the Horse is observed annually on December 13.

On November 18, 2004, United States Senate Resolution 452 recognized December 13 as the National Day of the Horse. National Day of the Horse encourages people of the United States to be mindful of the contribution of horses to the economy, history and character of the United States.

On this National Day of the Horse, we mustn’t forget the role horses have played, and still play in our military. Though nowhere near the glory days of the Cavalry, the Army still maintains horses for ceremonial purposes. Rather than drawing caissons of artillery, they now bear the caskets of the fallen.

At Lake Smith Stables adjacent to Fort Bragg, the Army maintained until recently a squadron of horses for the elite Special Forces. These magnificent animals not only served as ambassadors for the country, but helped train Special Forces for certain assignments in less developed countries.

But they also saw the battlefront. Most notably horses saw use in the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, when Special Operations soldiers rode them into combat with the Northern Alliance, against the Taliban. It was the first time since 1942 that horses had been used in combat. There's a 16-foot tall statue commemorating the "horse soldiers" of Afghanistan at the 9/11 Memorial site.

 HOW TO OBSERVE

Use #NationalDayoftheHorse to post on social media. And as most of you know, we do offer equine salve and equine tincture to assist with the health of your favorite equine friend.

with all our best,

Tom