Lord Nelson was one the first horses to make up the Rutgers University police department's mounted patrol unit when he was purchased in 1978. He served for ten years before becoming part of a student-run patrol unit for 20 years.
What a great life for a horse!
Lord Nelson was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct he broke free and raced down the sideline at Giants Stadium to become the only horse ever flagged in a college football game.
One of Lord Nelson's duties during his 37-year Rutgers career was carrying the school's Scarlet Knight mascot during football games. It was against Army in 1994 that Lord Nelson was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct he broke free and raced down the sideline at Giants Stadium to become the only horse ever flagged in a college football game.
He retired as equine professor emeritus in 2000 to teach children about horses.
Rutgers University says Lord Nelson was 42, or the human equivalent of 126 years when he died. He is famous in sports circles as the only horse ever to be penalized in a college football game.
Lord Nelson's biography as posted on Rutgers University website
My name is Lord Nelson. Iâm an American Quarter Horse who came to Rutgers University in 1978 at age five. My first job was to carry university police and later, student safety volunteers, on mounted patrol. I also carried the Scarlet Knight mascot at Rutgers football games.
One day I became famous when I got excited, stepped onto the field and became the only horse in history to receive a penalty in a football game!
And Iâm curious and mischievous! I love to be outside, so donât ever leave my stall door open. I love all kinds of food â just about nothing at a picnic is safe. But I wonât eat a fresh peach. Iâm smart enough to know that peach pits can be poisonous to horses. I also donât like cheese puffs. That cheetah on the bag scares me to death!
After 22 years on mounted patrol, Iâve seen just about everything there is to know about equine science, from exercise, to diet, to getting old, to what makes a good horse farm. Iâm proud to be back, working for the Rutgers Equine Science Center and telling everyone what I know.