05/25/2026
The riderless, caparisoned horse is one of the oldest and most moving military traditions in a full honor funeral. The horse is led behind the caisson wearing an empty saddle with the rider’s boots reversed in the stirrups, indicating the warrior will never ride again.
A Poem: The Riderless Horse
One of life’s most poignant moments
Is to witness firsthand the riderless horse
To know a person who would give their life
For my freedom, as a matter of course
I can’t help but wonder what they are thinking
At the moment of death, does one lose all fears
To know they died for all my freedoms
Their selflessness always brings me to tears
I hope we can come together as one nation
To honor the heroes who sacrificed for us all
God bless those brave souls and their families
For fearlessly accepting their ultimate call
© 2025 Jeffrey Pipes Guice
Photograph by Shelli Breidenbach
Let’s all join in this Memorial Day weekend to remember the heroes we have lost and the families they leave behind. Thank you to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) for this portrait of the Riderless Horse.
