Time for a Parade

Today I volunteered as an equestrian escort for 

a horse unit in the 500 Festival Parade.

There were 3 equestrian units in the parade,

the Wells Fargo Stagecoach,

the Indianapolis Mounted Police, 

and

the Mounted Color Guard

Caisson Platoon.

Lots prep goes on behind the scenes

to get theses steeds ready for the parade.

 The Wells Fargo hitch arrived in a huge semi trailer.

These horses are pros and have done lots of parades.

There are actually 20 of these hitches that travel all over the country.

The stagecoach

The mounted police didn't really need an escort. 

This was just another day at the office for these horses.

Then there were the Caisson horses, 

four 17-hand Percherons & a black Quarter horse.

The Caisson Platoon participates in military funerals,

with the draft horses pulling a caisson carrying the casket,

and the smaller riderless Quarter horse saddled 

with empty boots facing backwards in the stirrups,

 representing the fallen soldier.

Today the Caisson Platoon was the color guard,

carrying the nation's flag & the Indiana flag, flanked by guards.

The guard horses carry sabres.

 I walked with the Caisson unit.

What an honor to meet these special horses!

Its a hot job, 

but somebody's got to do it!