War Horse Spanish American War. Theodore Roosevelt was associated with horses from the time of his birth, during his military career, his many visits to wilderness areas and even at his death when New York City mounted police escorted his casket from Christ Church to Youngs Memorial Cemetery, four miles distance, where the former President was buried. Some of his many horses were...Rain-in-the-Face, Little Texas and Bliestein. His warhorse during the Spanish American War was Little Texas, a Quartermaster procured horse, he purchased when he conceived the Rough Riders and the group trained at Fort Sam Houston. The source of the name is obvious. The First US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment with the moniker "Rough Riders" was born from volunteers who wanted to served the country after Spain declared war on the U.S. It consisted of eastern intellects, cowboys, ranch hands, Indians, Hispanics, writers and athletes. Upon completion of training, the company shipped out from Tampa Bay, Florida aboard the USS Yucatan for Cuba. Upon reaching the shore, the volunteers marched towards the hills of San Juan, where they charged victoriously up Kettle Hill in the face of severe enemy fire. Astride, Little Texas, was Theodore Roosevelt leading the charge of the Rough Riders. The regiment was victorious in the battle which would be known as the Battle of San Juan Hill. Severe enemy fire took its toll. One fourth of its contingency was lost. Roosevelt would be honored by his superiors for his actions and leadership with a recommendation, he be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. However, politics blocked final approval. The award was finally presented posthumously, 100 years after his death by President Bill Clinton. Little Texas spent his retirement years at Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York, the summer residence of the Roosevelt's. He was never lonely, kept busy and active by the five roughneck children of the Roosevelt's. Upon his death, he was buried in a Pet Cemetery conceived by Mrs Roosevelt after finding their children's pets buried in the Sandbox. The family maintained a virtual menagerie ...Dogs, horses, cats, guinea pigs, badgers, bears, snakes, rats and birds. Upon the death of the pets, the children conveyed them with great ceremony to a burial place in the cemetery located to the rear of the main house. Although the site is the resting place of many of the families pets, only a few of the occupants names are inscribed on a crudely marked stone. However, The Park Service has erected a signboard indicating the site is a Pet Cemetery.