Army nears deal for Virginia caisson horse training site

The U.S. Army is moving closer to buying the 149-acre Middleburg Training Center in Loudoun County, Virginia, as a long-term home for the caisson horses of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard. The Army’s environmental review was completed in January 2026 with a Finding of No Significant Impact, and recent industry reporting says the Army has now reached an agreement with property owner Chuck Kuhn, after the Virginia Equine Alliance failed to secure a competing deal for the site. The facility is being considered to support a herd the Army says could reach 100 horses, with space for turnout, training, housing, and feed storage that current facilities at Fort Belvoir can’t adequately provide. (nab.usace.army.mil)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is another sign that the Army is continuing its overhaul of caisson horse care after the welfare failures that led to the suspension of funeral operations in 2022. Army documents describe the current Fort Belvoir setup as inadequate for housing, pasture, training, and feed storage, while the Middleburg site would offer substantially more land and infrastructure. At the same time, the proposed sale remains controversial in Virginia’s horse community because the training center is a major regional Thoroughbred asset, so any transition could affect local equine traffic, training patterns, and referral relationships. (asafm.army.mil)

What to watch: Watch for a signed purchase contract, any formal announcement from the Army or seller, and whether joint-use arrangements with the Virginia horse industry materialize. (paulickreport.com)