The Riderless Horse: Black Jack
America’s most famous horse
There are many famous American racehorses, Man o’ War, Seabiscuit and Secretariat, but few know the story of the stallion Black Jack.
Black Jack was born on January 19th, 1947, and was named in honour of General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing. He was branded with the Army’s U.S. brand on his left shoulder, and his Army serial number, 2V56, on the left side of his neck. According to Black Jack: America’s Famous Riderless Horse by Robert Knuckle, he made it pretty clear that he didn’t like to be ridden from the start. He threw rider after rider into the dirt of the training corral at Fort Reno (Okla.), and though over time they managed to find some control, he never lost his fiery spirit.
The last of the U.S. Army’s Quartermaster-issued horses, he grew to 15.1 hands and weighed almost 1,200 pounds. He was well built with a beautiful head, his black coat complimented by a small white star. His appearance, combined with his spirit, made him a favorite of the garrison at Fort Reno.
The administration was hesitant to sell Black Jack and wanted to find a special placement for him. When the Army needed horses for the Caisson Platoon at Fort Myer (Va.), they decided to move Black Jack.
No one on either side were all that concerned with Black Jack’s move, and certainly no one had any idea that later the black gelding would make such a major contribution to United States history.
Black Jack arrived at Fort Myer on November 22nd, 1952, and again, it was clear that he wasn’t suited to be a riding horse. He served in the Caisson Platoon of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and was the riderless horse in more than 1,000 Armed Forces Full Honors Funerals. The Old Guard is the Army’s oldest active duty infantry regiment, dating back to 1784.
Abraham Lincoln, who was killed in 1865, was the first U.S. president to have a caparisoned horse at his funeral. Tobias Lear, George Washington’s personal secretary, also recorded that Washington’s horse was a part of his funeral, and Zachary Taylor’s personal horse, Old Whitey, was in his funeral procession.
The Caisson Platoon itself has been a tradition for many years. The first caissons were built in 1918 and used for 75mm cannons. The caissons also carried ammunition, spare parts and tools for the cannons. Today, those items have been removed in exchange for the flat platform on which the casket sits.
The caparisoned horse came to symbolize a fallen rider’s last journey, and the backward boots in his stirrups imply that the warrior is having one last look at his family. In the United States, in order for a caparisoned horse to participate, the person must have achieved the rank of colonel in the Army or Marines or above.
During his service as a caparisoned (riderless horse), Blackjack took part in the funeral of President John F. Kennedy on November 24, 1963.
The honour was bestowed by Master Sergeant Ryan from the Caisson’s stables located in Pennsylvania. When Mrs Kennedy was advised by Quartermaster Coleman of the horses’ name, she was equally surprised to learn he shared the same name as her late father, John Vernou “Black Jack” Bouvier III.
On Sunday, November 24th, Arthur Carlson led Black Jack behind President Kennedy’s caisson and funeral cortège and on the three-mile walk through Arlington National Cemetery, over the Memorial Bridge, through the city to Pennsylvania Avenue. When the group reached the Treasury Building, the right rear wheel of the caisson became stuck in a gutter grate. The wheel was so stuck that the caisson dragged the grate a number of yards, which unnerved all the horses, including Black Jack.
When the funeral cortège finally arrived at the White House, Black Jack was nervous and wouldn’t stand still. He danced and fidgeted in front of televised audiences all the way to the Capitol. Because of protocol, Arthur wasn’t able to speak to the horse. After escorting Kennedy’s coffin to the Capitol Building, the caisson unit returned to the stables for the night.
On Monday November 25th, the corps headed back to the Capitol Building to escort Kennedy’s casket again. Black Jack was wild during the procession to the White House, and Arthur was afraid he was going to lose hold of him. At one point, Black Jack stomped down on Arthur’s toe so hard he was sure it was broken, but he couldn’t even bend down to rub it, or show any emotion at all due to the television cameras and witnesses.
Black Jack captured the public’s admiration, including the affection of Mrs Kennedy. On November 27th, she informed the Secretary of the Army that she wanted to purchase Black Jack when he was retired in 1973.
Her request was acknowledged, and she later received Black Jack’s caparison, which included his saddle, bridle, saddle blanket, sword, boots and spurs. An avid equestrian, Mrs Kennedy kept her horses at Fox Chase Stables on River Road in nearby Bedminster.
Black Jack was laid to rest in 1976 at Fort Myer. He was buried with full military honours, only the second horse (the other was Comanche) in U.S. history to receive such an honour.
