Horse Guard Mount Dallas Receives Award

Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard mount, Dallas, is the recipient of an “Animal Rescue” Hero Award, presented by the American Red Cross of Western Connecticut. There will be a Breakfast and Presentation at the Amber Room in Danbury, on Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 am.

There are nine categories for awards and this is the first time a horse has been selected for any of the awards. Because of his work in the 2GHG Therapeutic Riding program, Dallas won the award. In addition to working as a cavalry mount in a weekly drill and during parades and other ceremonies, Dallas is an exceptionally quiet horse, and is used for riders with a variety of disabilities.

Launched in 1998, the Saddle Up for Life Therapeutic Riding program provides a highly supervised riding program for residents of Southbury Training School. In 2003, a small lesson program was also added for children with disabilities.

Dallas, born in 1980, is a 15-hand quarter horse who came to 2GHG in 1991. Since then he has been part of the herd, which now numbers 26. He lives outdoors almost 24/7, only coming inside for the most severe weather.

Dallas has carried a Second Company Governor’s Foot Guard Commandant down the Presidential parade route in Washington, DC in 2005; and on April 25 of this year, acted as the mount for the “Powder House” reenactment in New Haven. 2GFG Commandant Major Peter Laffin, acting as the first 2GFG Commandant Benedict Arnold, rode Dallas to City Hall to request the keys to the Powder House in order to get supplies to join the American Revolution at the Battle of Lexington during the reenactment.

2GHG has been serving the citizenry of Connecticut since 1808 and is one of the oldest Cavalry Units in continuous service in the United States.  Tickets for the Heroes Breakfast may be purchased through the American Red Cross of Western Connecticut, via Nicole Arsenault at arsenault.redcross@snet.net.

The troopers and mounts of the 2GHG remain, as always, “Ready to Serve.”