2nd US Cavalry Co. A / 9th Virginia Cavalry Co. D

Shaka was a 16.3 hand saddlebred/percheron cross gelding registered with the Draft Cross Breeders and Owners Association.  Shaka began his life as a cavalry mount when his owner, Mark Bailey, purchased him at age 5.  He had been in the cavalry longer than most people.  He carried Mark safely into battle for 15 years.  There are numerous stories about Shaka.  One favorite is that Shaka was an escape artist and would never stay tied on the picket line.  When he escaped he would leave a steaming calling card in front of Mark’s tent – never anyone else’s tent.  He also liked to play dead – at night he would lay flat out on the ground and stay so still that new troopers doing picket watch would think he had passed away.  Mark was awakened many times to “get up I think your horse is dead”.  Shaka has been painted by many famous civil war artists and his likeness hangs in many museums.  The last 7 years Janet (Mark's wife) started riding him in sidesaddle events and as a cavalry trooper.  In 2006 Shaka and Janet  led New York City’s Tartan Day Parade.  In 2007 he won the International Side Saddle Association’s High Point Horse of the Year award and the Draft Cross Breeder’s and Owners Association Sidesaddle award.  The last 2 years he was also Mark & Janet's 5 year old granddaughter Lilly’s “Shockee”.  She showed him successfully winning the Liberty Network’s Leadline and Costume classes at the SideSaddle at the USET event in Gladstone, NJ.  Shaka was truly a “once in a lifetime” horse and is greatly missed by everyone who knew him.