Inside the Army's $30 million effort to revamp its funeral horse program after a series of horse deaths

• The US Army brought horse-drawn caissons back to Arlington National Cemetery in 2025.
• It invested about $30 million into upgrades, new facilities, revamped training, and horse welfare.
• We followed the Caisson Detachment from advanced training in Ocala, Florida, to Arlington Cemetery.

Soldiers also take responsibility for daily horse care, including feeding, hoof cleaning, bathing, and monitoring the animals’ health. Specialist Christopher Cuby, who is training as a horse soldier, said the horses are “absolutely high maintenance,” but the work becomes manageable with repetition.

“Some of it can be a little bit tedious, but once you get in a rhythm, once you just take things step by step, it’s not too bad,” Cuby said.

For soldiers who ultimately earn a place in the detachment, the mission carries unusual weight. The funeral procession gives families one final memory of their loved one’s service, and soldiers get only one chance to get it right.

When Sgt. Nick Cardenas completed his first funeral mission after months of training, he described the experience as “humbling.”

Cuby put it simply: “We’re taking them to their final resting place. That’s why it’s important that we do it correctly.”