Who We Are

Friday, June 03, 2011

Horsing Around At Fort Riley, Part I

Woo, everypup and everycat.  It's me - Dave - here with more of our very cool adventure at Fort Riley.  Today and the next couple of days, we're going to talk about something very special to this old Cavalry post -- horses!  There are several great statues and tributes to the US Cavalry horses scattered around post and we thought we'd share some with you!  Let's get started!

Even at the gates to Fort Riley, you can get the flavor of the US Cavalry - the signs are in the form of old horse jumps:

IMG_2376lomo Fort Riley, Ogden Gate

Since it's normally Photo Finish Friday, we thought we'd throw that cool lomo camera effect shot in.  Besides, that helps cover up the fact that Mom shot it through the window of a moving vehicle with her iPhone.  Woo.

OK!  The most famous of all the horse statues on post is of the Old Trooper - or Old Bill.  Here it is, over here:

DSCN1564 Dave
Me looking at the Old Trooper statue!

This statue has come to be the symbol of Fort Riley!

DSCN1570 The Old Trooper Statue

It stands at the edge of Cavalry Parade Field.  It was constructed by Fort Riley soldiers and was dedicated on 14 June 1961, in honor of the Kansas centennial.

DSCN1571 The Old Trooper Statue

They based the statue on a Frederick Remington sketch of a cavalryman from the late 1890s.

In front of the statue are two things - a really cool limestone bench to sit on...

DSCN1567 Zim (left) and Dave

...and the burial site of a very famous horse named Chief.  Can you see the flat stone surrounded by the horse-head poles and chains?  That's where Chief is buried -- the last cavalry mount carried on the rolls of the United States Army!

Chief was foaled in 1932 and served on active military duty from 1940-1949.  Chief passed away in 1968.  Like all thoroughbred Cavalry horses, he is buried standing upright, with his saddle and bridle on -- ready to go on patrol with the US Cavalry!!!  He was buried with full military honors.

DSCN1566 The Old Trooper Statue

It's great that the US Army honors not just the men and women who have served, but the other members of their team as well!

DSCN1572 Zim at The Old Trooper Statue
"Job well done -- by both soldier and horse alike!"

Zim speaks for all of us here at Ao4 Headquarters!

Tune back in tomorrow for more "horsing around"!
Luv,
Dave

9 comments:

  1. Such a cool fort!
    Benny & Lily

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  2. We love that the Cavalry is honored in such a beautiful way! We also love seeing you two handsome boys!

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  3. Such history. You guys sure did see a lot of cool things.

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  4. What cool history and beautiful statues!

    Love ya lots
    Maggie and Mitch

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  5. Thanks for showing all the cool horse statues - Mom loves horses!

    She didn't know that cavalry horses were buried standing up!

    Sam

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  6. Wow!
    Reading your post I learned a lot!
    Thanks for the tour!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  7. It is so cool that horses are honored for their place in American history. We sure did learn a lot from you guys:)

    Mocha Barney, Ashley Pumpernickel and Winniechurchill

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  8. Thanks for the history lesson, boys!

    Huffs

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  9. What a cool place! Pretty neat they bury the horses standing up & ready to go! That's like that clay army & horses in China - except for real.

    jack & moo

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