16 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Second Chances
By Courtney Zimmerman
It’s easy to marvel when you see the long string of black horses
that make up the Black Horse Troop at Culver Academies, a
college preparatory school located in Culver, Indiana on Lake
Maxinkuckee. Culver has a storied background in horsemanship
and tradition and has boasted a distinguished horsemanship
department for over 100 years.
The magnifcent Black Horse Troop has something else to boast
about – several of their horses are rescues that have participated
in the Inaugural Parade and in the World Equestrian Games.
The Troop has marched in 15 Presidential Inaugural Parades,
the most of any private or public high school. Additionally, Culver
was invited to participate in the Opening Ceremonies of the World
Equestrian Games, held in 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky.
To be able to ride in such privileged ceremonies, Culver’s horses
must be top notch. Edgar Little is the Director of Horsemanship
Operations and is in charge of the horses that are utilized in
Culver’s various horsemanship programs. Originally contracted
as a polo instructor in 1991, Ed has been a part of Culver’s horses
for almost 22 years; he has developed a keen eye and knows
exactly what type of horse is necessary for his programs.
Culver has always taken rescue horses for its riding
organizations. “If they meet the criteria of beginner broke and
black, sometimes we pay for a rescue horse,” Ed says. “Black
horses that are kid broke are very hard to come by. It takes at
Rescuing Black Beauties
least six months to bring them back to show worthy.”
Culver obtains some horses from people who cannot afford to
feed them, or that were not fed properly. First an equine dentist
checks their teeth and gives them a special diet and work program.
After they are rehabilitated, they sometimes are not so kid broke;
“they are good for the frst two weeks, but then after 60-90 days
they have too much energy and can’t be used for basic classes,”
Ed states. However, the horses that can be rehabilitated are used
as lesson horses, drill teams, mounted drill, parades, trail rides
and all summer camps. There are currently three rescue horses
that have these distinctions – Beauty, Stitch and Libby.
Culver’s stables are home to 94 horses of varying disciplines:
including 65 black horses for the Black Horse Troop. With 94 stalls
available, Culver has to fnd homes for the horses that are leaving
the department. “We’re always trying to improve our herd for the
program,” Ed affrms. After a horse gives 15-20 years of service,
they are retired to be adopted out. “We can always fnd them
homes because of the care they’ve received,” he says. “People
know that Culver takes good care of its horses and has excellent
paperwork for their records, so fnding a new home is relatively
easy.”
A rescued horse is very lucky to end up in the care of Culver
Academies. Once they are brought back to good health, they
join the ranks of the famous Black Horse Troop and serve as
ambassadors for the renowned horsemanship for which Culver
is known.
The Black Horse Troop parades in front of the Vaughn
Equestrian Center on the Culver campus
Tim Whalen, a Summer Camp Instructor, with Libby,
a Culver rescue horse
Culver’s stall designation for rescue horses
Ed Little, Culver Academies’ director of Horsemanship Operations, with two
horses in tow at the World Equestrian Games