FORT SILL, Okla. (Jan. 29, 2015) -- General Arnold, a horse with the Fort Sill Field Artillery Half Section, went to that "forevergreen pasture in the sky," Jan. 21.
The 27-year-old Arnold was the oldest horse living here. He joined the half section in 1994, and resided on post until his death.
Born in 1988, Arnold came to Fort Sill at age 6 where he became an essential member of the half-section operating in the swing-near, and swing-off positions during his career.
The swing position team is the middle horses of the six-horse team pulling the limber and cannon. The near position will host a rider, while the off position is riderless and used in case of emergency to evacuate one of the three men riding the limber.
Standing at 15.2 hands, Arnold was smaller than some of the other young horses in the stables. This didn't stop him from possessing a strong sense of dominance over his pasture mates.
"They don't mess with the old guys," said Sgt. Bobbi Bassler, noncommissioned officer in charge of the half section. "Preferring the company of the older horses, Arnold would easily keep the young guys in their place."
Arnold is survived by his swing-near partner, General Baxter and his long time friend, General Marty, who is now the oldest horse on Fort Sill at age 26.
He is also survived by his handler, Spc. Min Yu who has worked with Arnold for over a year.
"He was nice and kind," said Yu. "He was slow but really easy tempered and happy."
Arnold was named for Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, the only man in military history to hold both the rank of General of the Army and General of the Air Force.
"The horses used to be named after (military) posts, like Riley," said Bassler. "Then eventually we moved onto five-generals. So we had every five star general, Arnold is the last, he's lived the longest. Now they are named for CGs (commanding generals)."
Arnold leaves behind a legacy of memory for those who knew him.
"When I first got here, two other newbies and I were riding horses in the round pen," said Yu. "Arnold went and bit the other person riding a horse on the knee. He (the rider) wouldn't stop crying about it."
Bassler remembers Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Aaron, 214 Fires Brigade CSM, riding Arnold during the sergeant major ride this past fall.
"They put Sergeant Major Aaron on Arnold," she said, "and the horse I was on, we ended up being in the front of everybody. We're all walking down this road and I hear the noise of a horse trotting, so I look back and here comes Sergeant Major Aaron looking excited and Arnold is looking just the same, both all excited and happy. It made my day to see Arnold that happy, and Sergeant Major Aaron was just as happy."
Horses of the half section are chosen based on their height, coloring and overall soundness of body structure. They can be of any breed and background. Arnold was a thoroughbred. Typically the horses are over age 6 when they arrive here to begin training.
"First, horses are evaluated on their riding -- how well they take to the bit and being ridden. Then we put the harness on and [they] get used to that," said Bassler. "They get lounged in the round pen with the harness on and after they are comfortable with that they get ponied at a walk, a trot and a canter, so they get used to being tied to another horse. Then, they get attached to the wheel position (last pair of horses closest to the limber and gun) with no one in front of them so they get accustomed to the sounds of the limber. Eventually, you put them in the position you want them in, which for Arnold was swing. He fit right into it and has been as swing pretty much his entire career, a little over 20 years."
Arnold's last performance was during a filming for a History Channel special on Theodore Roosevelt and the field artillery.
Shortly after, he began to experience severe arthritic pain leaving him unable to continue in his position.
Both Yu and Bassler, along with the rest of the half section Soldiers, who care for all the horses, continued to care for Arnold until his time of death.
A plaque with one of the horse's horseshoes and his photo will be made in his honor. It will hang in the half section building. Arnold's position in swing-off will be filled by General Halverson.
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