The Scarlet Knight is the mascot of Rutgers University in New Jersey. The red-plated knight rides a horse at college football games. Lord Nelson, a horse that carried that knight for many years, passed away on Sunday at the age of 42.
Lord Nelson began his career as a police horse, joining the mounted unit of the university police in 1978. After many years on patrol duty there, he began to carry the Scarlet Knight at football games. At a 1994 football game against West Point, Lord Nelson broke loose and dashed across the field. A referee penalized him for unsportsmanlike conduct. This is the only time that a horse has received such a dishonor.
-via Dave Barry
RIP Lord Nelson, The Only Horse Ever Penalized in a Football Game
