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Nelson - George Washington's Horse
George Washington’s Horsemanship

George Washington valued horses and horsemanship from an early age. At fourteen, Washington surveyed lands on horseback in Virginia. He would keep detailed journals on all of his horses and loved each one of them. Later on, Thomas Jefferson constantly referred to George Washington as one of "the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback." Marquis de Chastellux, Washington’s friend, agreed with Thomas Jefferson as he states that George Washington "is a very excellent and bold horseman, leaping the highest fences, and going extremely quick, without standing upon his stirrups, bearing on the bridle, or letting his horse run wild." During Washington’s early life he was always engaged with horses. Whether engaged in battle or observing his farms, Washington always paid attention to the well-being of his horses, which was a very rare trait. His combined natural ability, constant practice, and knack at horseback riding made him confident and almost completely flawless when he rode. Nelson

One of the many horses George Washington owned was Nelson.Thomas Nelson, realized that Washington was having trouble finding a replacement for the horse he had been previously riding. As a result, Thomson Nelson sent the horse to General Washington in New York as a gift. Washington, in return, decided to name the horse after his caring friend. Nelson was then considered to be George Washington’s favorite horse. This majestic gelding (a male horse) stood at 16 hands high, more than 5 feet tall. Nelson was covered in a brilliant chestnut coat, with only a white marking on his face and four white socks on each leg. Nelson was born around 1763, but given to George Washington when he was around the mature age of fifteen years old. At War

During battle, Nelson was never gun shy or skittish, he stood confidently striking fear into the enemy. Unlike most horses, the sound of cannon fire or people shouting did not bother him. George Washington rode him on the day the British army under the direction of Lord Cornwallis had to surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. Nelson also took the high honor of being General Washington’s primary horse for the duration of the Revolutionary War. Washington would always recognize the sacrifices and effort Nelson put during war. His heart was in it, right next to his master.

Nelson’s Retirement and Death

Nelson was no longer ridden after the war, but lived out his days at the stable and paddock at the Mansion House Farm as something of a pampered celebrity. Only two years after the close of the war, a foreign visitor commented that Nelson "fed away at his ease for his past services to his country.” Washington's constantly growing affection for the horse was known. It had been reported that George Washington would walk around the grounds of his land, where he would stop at Nelson's paddock (home), "when the old war-horse would run, neighing, to the fence, proud to be caressed by the great master's hands." Nelson passed away at Mount Vernon "many years after the Revolution, at a very advanced age." His death was reported to George Washington during the Christmas season of 1790, when the old horse would have been twenty-seven years old.

Sources

Thompson, Mary V. "William Lee & Oney Judge: A Look at George Washington & Slavery."Journal of the American Revolution. N.p., 28 Aug. 2016. Web. 10 May 2017. https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/06/william-lee-and-oney-judge-a-look-at-george-washington-slavery/ Gittess, Annie. "Horsemanship." George Washington's Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, n.d. Web. 23 May 2017. http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/horsemanship/ Thompson, Mary V. "Nelson (Horse)." George Washington's Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, n.d. Web. 23 May 2017. http://www.mountvernon.org/digital-encyclopedia/article/nelson-horse/ "Founders Online: To George Washington from Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, Jr. ..."National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 10 May 2017. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-16-02-0309