Mother Nature cooperated just long enough for the Second Company Governor's Horse Guard (2GHG) to complete its open house activities at its Fairfield Hills Headquarters on June 25 before the rain started falling. Members of the 2GHG left the facility a bit wet from the cleanup, but hopeful to be even better accommodated by state officials and that potential budget cuts do not wash away their tradition of service and horse care that began 200-plus years ago.online petition in support of the 2GHGThe topic of the Horse Guard being threatened is nothing new, but push may finally be coming to shove, 2GHG officials fear. Horse Guard troopers created an A Community Asset

, petitioning the Appropriations Committee of the State of Connecticut. At the top of the petition are the words: "The Second Horse has been put on the State Budget 'chopping block.'"

Retired 2GHG Commanding Officer Major Gordon Johnson, who represents the 2GHG as the president of the Friends of the Second Company Governor's Horse Guard, said that it was possible the Horse Guard could be eliminated in a budget vote soon, but noted that potential rebuttals could drag out the process a bit.

The Horse Guard, through fundraising efforts, comes up with $40,000 annually to provide food, hay, a farrier, and veterinary care for its ten horses. But the cost to run the buildings and maintain the grounds of the Horse Guard far exceeds what the Friends of the 2GHG help raise - and appears to be above what the state will be willing to continue to shell out.

"The facility needs to have an agricultural worker, and electricity, water, fuel, and general maintenance," Major Johnson said. That adds up to $145,000 a year, said the Major. The Horse Guard falls under the same state military umbrella as the Connecticut Army National Guard, Major Johnson explained, and he understands there is a predicament if money has to be taken out of the military budget. Connecticut has two horse guards, the other being in Avon, and both were slated to be cut from the state budget by the Connecticut governor's office, Major Johnson said.

"I would not want to take anything away from the Army National Guard soldiers," Major Johnson said. But Major Johnson believes the state should find a way to maintain the horse guards.

"I can't fathom how it would be that much of a huge amount out of the budget, considering what we do for the community," he said. "I think the state has a responsibility to help the military and give them the funding they need to carry on this mission we have at the Horse Guard."

The 2GHG has offered programs for riders with special needs, worked with Police Explorers, and teamed with the Pony Rides For Jessica Rekos organizers to host that annual event. It also assists the Newtown Bridle Lands Association during the annual Frost on the Pumpkin Hunter Pace.

"These are the things that are an asset to the state they don't really see," Major Johnson said of state officials who are in control of the fate of the Horse Guard. "We represent the state of Connecticut, we work with educational institutions, we work with special needs programs, we work with outreach programs. It's really opened a lot of doors to a lot of people."

Horse Guard Private First Class Bonnie Cypher said the Horse Guard also provides an escape from everyday life for the 2GHG troopers. "It's very important," she said of the Horse Guard.

Both of the state's horse guards advertise stalls for lease in an effort to bring in needed funding to cover costs. The open house on June 25 was free to the public, but donations were accepted. Such events and attempts at raising money simply are not enough.

Major Johnson says if the Horse Guard is lost it will have an impact well beyond Newtown.

"This is like an icon center for Newtown, and not just Newtown but the communities around us. I think it would be a loss to the citizens of the State of Connecticut. The thing would be lost, because once they do that it won't be back. This is something that once you destroy it, it will be destroyed for good. It would be heartbreaking. It would be a tragedy for the whole area.

"We represent 200-plus years of the history for the State of Connecticut as a state militia," added Major Johnson, 65, who retired from the Horse Guard about a year ago after approximately 15 years of service in the guard, adding that he will continue to serve as president of the Friends of the 2GHG. "I hope to be here next year."

If the Horse Guard meets its demise, homes will have to be found for the horses. Major Johnson said the horses would first be offered to their original owners. If the owners do not want the horses back they would be put out to bid. Major Johnson emphasized that care would be taken to ensure the horses go to good homes if the Horse Guard troopers are unable to keep the horses themselves.

The Second Company Governor's Horse Guard is an all-volunteer state militia unit, originally formed to attend and escort the governor. It was chartered in 1808. As an active cavalry unit, 2GHG serves the governor and the State of Connecticut at the direction of the Connecticut Army National Guard, under the command of the Adjutant General, Major General Thaddeus J. Martin. One of the oldest cavalry units in continuous service in the United States, 2GHG has a long history of dedicated service to the citizenry of the State of Connecticut in times of peace and war and to the preservation of the cavalry in Connecticut.