Presidential Horses - George Washington (Clone)

With Presidents' Day just around the corner we thought it was time that the horse(s) of these historical heroes were honored as well.

Blueskin was a gray horse ridden by George Washington and was one of Washington's two primary mounts during the American Revolutionary War. The horse was a half-Arabian, sired by the stallion Ranger (also known as "Lindsay's Arabian) and was said to have been obtained from the Sultan of Morocco.  Due to his then white coat, Blueskin was the horse most often portrayed in artwork depicting Washington on a horse.

However, Washington's  primary riding horse was Nelson, a chestnut gelding.  Thomas Nelson of Virginia sent the horse to General Washington in New York as a gift. Washington named the horse after his generous friend.  Better in the chaos of war than Bluestone, it was Nelson who was said to have carried the General throughout most of the American Revolution. Described as a "splendid charger," the animal stood sixteen hands high, and was a light sorrel or chestnut (reddish-brown) in color, with white face and legs.

Both horses were retired after the Revolutionary War and  lived out their lives at Washington's Mount Vernon home.

Thomas Jefferson once commented that George Washington was "the best horseman of his age, and the most graceful figure that could be seen on horseback.