A Border Patrol Horse Patrol agent prepares horses for work along the Rio Grande near McAllen, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2025. The Army has donated 15 horses from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and Fort Irwin, Calif., where they served in units that honored the history of the cavalry through ceremonies, parades and community outreach events. (Perry Shirzad/U.S. Coast Guard)
The Army’s efforts to repurpose money from non-warfighting-related spending into weapons and training led to 15 horses from ceremonial units finding a new mission patrolling the southwest border with Customs and Border Protection.
The horses came from Fort Huachuca, Ariz., and Fort Irwin, Calif., where they served in units that honored the history of the cavalry through ceremonies, parades and community outreach events.
After a three-week training course, they’ll be sent to mounted Border Patrol units along the U.S. border with Mexico, CBP said Friday.
The transfer saved CBP about $105,000, the agency said.
“This cooperation saves taxpayer dollars and strengthens the U.S. Border Patrol’s Horse Patrol, a unit that has been critical in securing our nation’s borders since our agency’s inception,” Michael Banks, Border Patrol chief, said in a statement.
Mounted patrol units provide agents with enhanced mobility and visibility in areas that are difficult to access by vehicle, according to CBP.
The Army has plans to close one more horse unit at Fort Sill, Okla. The base said some of its horses are being considered for service with other federal agencies or Army units but that no decisions had been finalized.
The Army will save about $1.1 million by closing the three units. Similar units continue to operate at Fort Hood, Texas and Fort Riley, Kan.
Before accepting the horses from the Army, Border Patrol Horse Patrol Unit instructors traveled to the posts to evaluate the animals for their suitability in mounted patrol operations, CBP said. The evaluations included inspections of conformation, groundwork and riding assessments. Veterinarians also evaluated each horse.
Ten horses then went to the Santa Teresa Station in New Mexico for the three-week training course. Those horses are now assigned to El Centro and San Diego, Calif., Tucson, Ariz., and El Paso and the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas, CBP said.
The remaining five horses are awaiting assignment.
