U.S. Army Buys Virginia Horse Farm to Relocate Old Guard's Caisson Horses
The U.S. Army finalized an $8.6 million purchase of the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia on August 6, 2026, to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment, which support burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The relocation follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir contributed to four horse deaths. The Army revamped its equine program, creating a Military Working Equid Task Force and a new equestrian military occupational specialty. While residents support improved horse care, they mourn the loss of a premier thoroughbred training facility.
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Army buys Virginia horse farm to stable Old Guard's caisson horses
The U.S. Army finalized an $8.6 million deal on August 6, 2026, to purchase the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia, a 149-acre horse farm, to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment that support burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The move follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir, which contributed to the deaths of four horses. The Army considered over 100 properties before selecting the Middleburg facility, which has newer barns and room for over 200 horses. While residents support the Army's mission and horse care improvements, they expressed dismay over losing access to the region's premier thoroughbred training facility, which includes the state's longest racetrack. The relocation is part of broader modernization efforts, including a new Army Equestrian military occupational specialty.
Army buys Virginia horse farm to stable Old Guard's caisson horses
The U.S. Army has finalized an $8.6 million purchase of the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment, which support burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The move follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir, contributing to the deaths of four horses. The Army considered over 100 properties before selecting the 149-acre farm, which has newer barns and room for over 200 horses. While residents support the Army's improved horse care, they are dismayed by the loss of the region's premier thoroughbred training facility and potential local job impacts. The relocation is part of broader modernization efforts, including a new Army Equestrian military occupational specialty and lighter caissons.
Army buys Virginia facility to stable The Old Guard’s caisson horses
The U.S. Army finalized an $8.6 million deal on August 6, 2026, to purchase the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard’s Caisson Detachment, which support burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The move follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir contributed to the deaths of four horses. The Army revamped its equine program, creating a Military Working Equid Task Force and a new equestrian military occupational specialty. While residents support the Army's mission and horse care improvements, they mourn the loss of the training center, which features the state's longest racetrack and is a key local economic and equestrian asset.
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Army buys Virginia facility to stable The Old Guard’s caisson horses
The U.S. Army finalized an $8.6 million deal on August 6, 2026, to purchase the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia, a 149-acre horse farm, to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment. The move, part of modernization efforts following a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities contributed to horse deaths, relocates the herd from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir. The community of Middleburg is divided, supporting the Army's mission at Arlington National Cemetery but mourning the loss of a premier thoroughbred training facility and fearing job losses. The Army considered over 100 properties before selecting the site, which has newer barns and room for over 200 horses.
Army Buys Virginia Horse Farm to Relocate Old Guard's Caisson Horses
The U.S. Army has finalized an $8.6 million deal to purchase the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment, which support burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The move, completed on August 6, 2026, follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir contributed to the deaths of four horses. The Army considered over 100 properties before selecting the 149-acre farm, which has 11 barns and room for over 200 horses. While residents support the Army's efforts to improve horse care, many mourn the loss of the facility, which contains the state's longest racetrack and is a premier thoroughbred training center. The relocation is part of broader modernization efforts, including a new Military Mounted Battalion and a revamped equestrian program.
Army Buys Virginia Horse Farm to House Old Guard's Caisson Horses
The U.S. Army has finalized an $8.6 million deal to purchase the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia, a 149-acre horse farm, to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment. The relocation, about an hour from Washington, D.C., follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir, which contributed to the deaths of four horses. The Army revamped its equine program, creating a Military Working Equid Task Force and a new equestrian military occupational specialty. While residents support the mission, they mourn the loss of the training center, which features the state's longest racetrack and is a premier thoroughbred facility. The move is part of the Army's modernization efforts for the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).