Overview
- The Army will preserve the horse units at Fort Hood, Texas, and Fort Riley, Kansas, and will formally designate them as programs focused on demonstrations, education, and local events.
- Programs at Fort Irwin, Fort Huachuca, and Fort Sill will be discontinued, with animals to be adopted or transferred to vetted owners by July under commanders’ oversight.
- A new Army Equestrian (08H) military occupational specialty replaces the military horseman identifier, creating a dedicated equine-care career path for infantry NCOs in grades E5–E9, with transfers possible as early as next year.
- The July proposal projected $2 million in annual savings by closing five units, while keeping two is now expected to cost about $1.2 million per year, according to an Army spokesman.
- The Old Guard caisson units were never included in the cuts, and the Army has not explained why Hood and Riley were selected to remain after a July count of 236 equines on Army posts.