A detailed image of the comparison horse’s stirrups at a funeral in Arlington National Cemetery. According to Army tradition, a ceremonial horse is led by a “cap walker,” in a procession with boots set backward in the saddle’s stirrups. In addition to high-ranking government officials such as the president, the cap horse honor is reserved for officers of the rank of colonel or above. The tradition dates “to Roman times, or Genghis Khan,” as a high honor bestowed on high-ranking fallen warriors.” Today “the boots facing backward symbolize [that] the fallen won’t ride again and [the rider is] looking back on his family one last time,”.