FORT CARSON, Colo. -- John and Henry stood on Founders Field May 3 taking in their new surroundings. Off the trailer from a long road trip from Fort Riley, Kan., the black horse mules were more interested in nibbling the grass than listening to their new trainers, Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard.
Despite their restlessness, Spc. Joel Stevenson approached, inching his way across the grass with his walker until he reached Henry. Quietly, the two bonded.
"I was born and raised around horses and mules," said Stevenson, Warrior Transition Battalion. "I had a drive team and was involved in the 4-H in high school."
Stevenson was one of the first Soldiers to greet Fort Carson's first mule team in more than 40 years.
The mounted color guard acquired the mules with the help of several community organizations, including the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, the Colorado 30 Group, the Rocky Mountain Wagon Masters and the Pikes Peak Range Riders.
"Fort Carson has a rich history with mule teams," said Bill Tutt, Fort Carson Good Neighbor and member of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and Colorado 30 Group. "It's great for the community."
Tutt, along with Fort Carson Good Neighbor Don Addy, helped acquire the mule team.
Master Sgt. Shawn Farnsworth, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, said plans for adding a mule team began in November when Maj. Gen. Joseph Anderson, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, visited the Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center.
Anderson asked Farnsworth if the mounted color guard could continue horsemanship training for WTB Soldiers after their eight-week session with the riding center.
"The general asked, 'Can we add to this?' and I said, 'Yes, sir. We can,'" Farnsworth said.
Farnsworth worked with community partners to secure the mules, which will be trained by both mounted color guard members as well as Soldiers in the WTB.
"It gives our WTB Soldiers a chance to take off the uniform, put on a pair of Wranglers, do some ranch work and learn how to work with these animals," he said.
The mules will also serve in various ceremonies and parades, once they've had some training.
"We need to work on ground manners," Farnsworth said. "They're more stubborn than a horse."
Farnsworth said John and Henry must complete 30 "missions," training on Turkey Creek Ranch and around Fort Carson, before participating in ceremonies.
"We need to desensitize them," he said. "We need to get them used to flags, gunfire and Soldiers."
Once trainers are confident with John and Henry, the pair will be responsible for pulling a refurbished 1878 original Army escort wagon.
"It's a neat piece of history," Farnsworth said. "The cavalry units used these wagons to escort settlers during the western expansion. … It would be the up-armored Humvee of its day."
Farnsworth said the wagon has its original iron axles and frame.
According to Farnsworth, Soldiers from the WTB will work with the wagon team.
"The (WTB) Soldiers, they'll benefit wonderfully," Stevenson said.
"The Soldiers will be able to get out of the barracks and participate and experience something new."
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