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September 1, 2010
Wow, so far we’ve learned a lot of fun stuff about some pretty weird and wild animals who have called the White House home. This week we’re going to find out about some pets that aren’t as common these days, but that used to be part of all kinds of people’s homes, not just the presidents’. We’re talking about the ones that say baa, moo, bleat and neigh, so let’s gallop on!
Hoofing it to the White House
In the days before cars, most people got around using horses, so horses were a pretty popular pet. Our very first president, George Washington, owned several stallions, but his two most special horses were Nelson and Blueskin. These were the horses that General Washington rode during the American Revolution. That means they were more than just pets; they were heroes who helped America to be born!
George Washington on his Horse
It was the second president, John Adams, who had the first stables built at the White House. (That’s probably because he was the first president to live there.) His favorite horse was named Cleopatra.
In fact, several presidents had favorite horses with funny names. For Andrew Jackson, it was the white stallion Sam Patch, named after a very famous daredevil who jumped over Niagra Falls.
Andrew Jackson on Sam Patch
Courtesy of the Hermitage
For Ulysses S. Grant, it was a horse called Jeff Davis that he rode during the Civil War. Meanwhile, a man named Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederacy! For Zachary Taylor, it was Old Whitey, who was allowed to wander around the White House grounds. Unfortunately for Old Whitey, many White House visitors would pull strands of hair from his tail to keep as souvenirs! Ouch!
Much later, another president, Rutherford B. Hayes, also had a horse named Old Whitey. When his Old Whitey died, (at Hayes’ home in Ohio) the Freemont Journal printed an obituary of the horse, who had served in 19 battles during the Civil War.
Old Whitey Hayes
It’s possible that no one loved his horse more than President John Tyler. When his four-legged friend The General died, Tyler had the horse buried at his estate in Virginia. He even put up a gravestone that reads, “Here lies the body of my good horse ‘The General.’ For twenty years he bore me around the circuit of my practice, and in all that time he never made a blunder. Would that his master could say the same! John Tyler.”
John Tyler's Home
Where The General is buried
Of course, horses are not the only animals to have hoofed their way up Pennsylvania Avenue. Abraham Lincoln had a pig. President Taft got fresh milk from Pauline the cow, the last cow ever to live at the White House. Woodrow Wilson used a flock of sheep to keep the grass trimmed during World War I, because he could save money that way. And Benjamin Harrison had a goat named Old Wiskers who used to pull his grandchildren around in a cart. One day Old Wiskers took off running down Pennsylvania Avenue. The President of the United States was forced to chase after him, waving his cane and top hat as he ran. The public must have enjoyed seeing that!
Old Whiskers with the
President's grandchildren
Of course, no Presidential Pets chapter would be complete without a story about Teddy Roosevelt (since he kept just about every kind of animal there is). The award for most memorable hoofer has to go Algonquin, a calico pony who belonged to Archie Roosevelt, the president’s son. One day Archie was sick in bed and begged to see his pony. A horse groom named Charles took Algonquin up the White House elevator all the way into Archie’s bedroom. It was the first time a horse had ever ridden in the White House elevator. Archie was delighted, and the pony had a pretty good time too. (Stately and I wish someone would bring us a pony when we get sick!)
Archie Roosevelt and Algonquin
It has been a long time since any horses, goats, sheep or cows have lived at the White House. Now that people drive cars, they don’t use horses as much. Stately and I agree though that if President Obama is looking for ways to save money, it sure would be fun to see a herd of sheep out there trimming the lawn. And we bet Sasha and Malia would love to be pulled in a cart by a goat, or visited in their rooms by a pony. Maybe if we ask their mom…
Come back next week when we learn all about the feline friends who have made the White House Meow-valous!
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