For four hours on Sunday, there was plenty to eat and there was plenty to see during the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard Open House at Fairfield Hills.

When visitors weren’t grabbing a cheeseburger or a hot dog underneath the lunch tent, they could roam the grounds – taking a tour of the newly-renovated barns or taking a tour of Fort Mustang (a new training facility).

“We have made a lot of improvements to our facility since last year,” Lt. George Marks, the unit’s operations officer and organizer of the Open House, had said, “and we’re very excited to show them off.”

Visitors also had the opportunity to step out back and get a look at the demonstrations of the University of Connecticut Vaulting Team. In the same ring, the Second Company also demonstrated its authentic mounted U.S. Calvary drill.

For the children, there were pony rides on top of some of the unit’s finest mounts.

The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard is one of the oldest, mounted calvary units in the nation, having been formed by an act of the Connecticut legislature back in 1808. The unit has been in continuous service since it was formed and this past January rode in the inaugural parade of President George W. Bush.

The unit comes under the command of Adjutant General, Major General William Cugno.