Meanwhile, army bases in California, Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas will sunset their MWE programs. European colonial settlers relied on horses for centuries, but official US cavalry forces are traceable all the way back to the Revolutionary War.

The Army announced it will seize operations and ownership of horses at Fort Irwin, Calif., Fort Huachuca, Ariz., Fort Riley, Kan., Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Hood, Texas. Caisson units, however, will continue to operate at the Military District of Washington in Washington, D.C., and Virginia, as well as at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas.

The Army is ending five equine programs to save a couple million dollars a year. It might also be a wise move for animal welfare reasons.