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American
presidents throughout history have appreciated
the utility and admired the grandeur of the horse.
The visual image of the hero elevated on horseback
has been a constant presence in equestrian art
and public sculpture throughout the world. George
Washington regarded horses as a source of pardonable
pride, and his warhorses were of great importance
to him as loyal companions and symbols of his
leadership. A succession of presidents since his
time has enjoyed the beauty and skill of these
uncomplaining public servants for work, sport,
and leisure.
The White House stables, always a hub of activity,
progressed from a simple Georgian brick building
in 1800 to a High Victorian mansard-roofed structure
commissioned by Ulysses S. Grant in 1871. This
last stable, expanded in 1891, was extensive enough
to include stalls for 25 horses, a carriage house,
tack and harness rooms and a living area for coachmen
and stable hands.
Before automobiles, all presidents and their families
and staff depended on horses for transportation.
The primacy of the horse at the White House ended
in 1909 when President Taft converted the stable
into a garage for his giant steam cars. Two years
later the stable was demolished and horses remained
available to the White House primarily for leisure
or to provide stately dignity to ceremonies and
anniversaries. The horses of the Army’s
Old Guard Caisson Platoon remain a vital part
of presidential funerals.
This exhibition was organized by the White
House Historical Association, the White House
Curator’s Office and the National Park
Service. Special thanks to The National Sporting
Library, Middleburg, Virginia; The International
Museum of the Horse, Lexington, Kentucky; Carriage
Museum of America, Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania;
and Ed Hotaling, Washington, D.C. Photo credits:
All title panel images from the Prints and
Photographs Division, Library of Congress unless
otherwise noted.
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