NC Mounted Troop development director Michelle Schmerzler (left) and program director Lisa Tomaselli pose with Sweet Emotion.

Photo Credit: Greg Canuel

At 32 years old, Cortell is the Mounted Troop's elder statesman.

Photo Credit: Greg Canuel

The New Canaan Mounted Troop is the last of a dying breed, as the only children's cavalry left in the country. But with their brand-new facility on their grounds on Carter Street, and program director Lisa Tomaselli just in her second year, they're not going anywhere for a while.

"All the horses, on moving day, left the old place behind pretty fast," said Tomaselli. "I don't think anyone looked back." Not only does the new barn provide more room for each horse in its 30 stalls, it is also safer for the children in the program.

It has four handicap-accessible bathrooms, which is a necessity for the one day a week Pegasus Therapy uses the facility and its more docile horses for its handicapped riders program. And the geothermal climate system provides cooling in the summer and heat in the winter for the offices and indoor cleaning stalls, where the kids and staff can care for horses while shielded from the elements, which helps the troop's year-round schedule.

Margaret Cabell Self founded the Troop in 1939 because she wanted to teach children about horse care in a structured environment. As the title suggests, children's cavalries are organized with military-style ranks, from cadets all the way to captains, with one cadet major each year. Promotions are based not on riding ability, but rather horse care, leadership and work ethic, "qualities that we feel make good horsemen," Tomaselli said.

Although there is full-time professional staff, much of the grooming and care is handled by the troopers themselves, with the 100 or so kids naturally distributing themselves among the 29 horses. "Each horse has its own fan club," Tomaselli said. "One even has a Facebook page. He has more friends than I do."

The New Canaan Mounted Troop starts registration for its Fall 2010-Spring 2011 session July 27. For more information on registration, or making donations, visit their website.