Ceremonial Horse Guards Escort Malloy To Inauguration

When Governor-elect Dan Malloy walks in his Inauguration parade past Bushnell Park to the State Armory he’ll be accompanied by two ceremonial horse guards. These cavalry units have been escorting Connecticut’s governors for more than two hundred years. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.

During the day Gordon Johnson works in the construction industry. But on the weekends he’s the Major Commandant of the Second Company Horse Guard.

“We stand ready to serve the governor in any way we can.”

When the Horse Guards were formed more than 200 years ago, that was their job. They also escorted presidents including George Washington and foreign visitors like Lafayette. The guards also served in both World Wars. Today they are a ceremonial unit under the direction of the Connecticut National Guard. The state pays to shelter and feed the horses. The guards, all volunteers, put in hundreds of hours a year training so they and their horses can march safely by crowds. They spend their own money, as much as $1,000, on uniforms. Johnson says when he rides in formation with the other troopers, it’s his way of giving back to Connecticut

“You know something, one of my best feelings is being able to be on the horse and be in total control of the horse and actually be able to wave to the children on the side of the parade. I think that’s one of my greatest feelings.”

Besides participating in parades, the Second Horse Guard runs a therapeutic riding program for the disabled. The First Governors Horse Guard has been trained in search and rescue.

For WNPR I’m Nancy Cohen.