Gordon and Kindra Johnson of Newtown have been members of the Second Company Horse Guard for almost a year now, but what makes it so special is that Gordon and Kindra Johnson are father and daughter – quite possibly the first father-daughter tandem the troop has ever had.

The Johnsons have gone through the required recruit training and are Privates.

Gordon, an engineer, and Kindra, who works at the Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital in Newtown, have horses of their own on their farm in Newtown, but it was the lore of the cavalry that called to the both of them. Interested in preserving the cavalry in Connecticut and being part of a state militia unit were things that attracted Gordon and Kindra to the Second Company.

Seems that volunteering is a word Gordon is very familiar with as he is a member of the Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department as well as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance.

Kindra appears to be following in her father’s footsteps.

The troopers in the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard help care for the herd of 34 horses and perform in over 30 parades and functions per year. The troop also has begun regularly scheduled mounted patrols in state forests for the state DEP in conjunction with the Connecticut Horse Council.

The Johnsons will be keeping a very busy schedule, as the troop will also be expanding its Therapeutic Riding program for “special needs” adults as well as a new program being formed for veterans from the West Haven Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Both Gordon and Kindra stated that joining seemed like a “good thing to do” as a father/daughter worthwhile activity. Kindra convinced Gordon to join and both have become valued members of the Troop.