10/29/2026
In January 2012, I was incredibly fortunate to welcome Major, an NYPD Mounted Unit police horse, into Spirit’s Promise through a private adoption. This magnificent Thoroughbred spent his working years as an NYPD Mounted Unit horse, patrolling Yankee Stadium, keeping Rockefeller Center safe on New Year's Eve, and serving in crowd control when needed.
The mounted unit brought him to us on one of the coldest days of January. The moment Major stepped off the trailer, he looked over the other horses and snorted—as if to announce a new boss had arrived. It was such a perfect introduction to the horse we would come to love.
His badge number was 0017, a number with special meaning: Major was the 17th horse to join New York City’s Mounted Unit in 2000.
Today, I had the heartbreaking privilege of saying goodbye as Major peacefully crossed over. He was 28 years old and one of the original horses of Spirit’s Promise. He gave so much of himself throughout his life, and we were honored to give him a home, care, and so much love.
Major will be deeply missed—not only by all of us here at Spirit’s Promise in Delanson in Upstate New York, but by everyone on Long Island whose life he touched. Rest peacefully, Major. You were one of a kind, and you will always be a Major part of our story.
