U.S. Army buys Virginia horse farm for $8.6M to house Old Guard's caisson horses

Published Aug 18, 07:22 PM UTC

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.