Rusty, a standardbred cross Crabbet Arabian, died in his Sydney paddock in February. He was 35.

Rusty was given to the K Troop New South Wales Lancers on permanent loan in 1989 aged about six, where he quickly proved himself a valuable part of the team.

During more than 20 years of service he was involved in various Anzac Day ceremonies, the royal salute to Prince Charles in Parramatta in 1994 and the centenary of the Australian Army birthday parade in 2001.

He was also confirmed by the Australian War Memorial as the last surviving horse involved in the entombment of the Unknown Soldier in 1993.

Captain Mike Fitzgerald cared for Rusty for 29 years and remembered him as "no slouch", even in his elder years. He was happy to be alone, unusual for a horse, and had a wonderful temperament unless people were trying to check his teeth, Captain Fitzgerald said.

“Over the years, according to the log sheet, we’ve had 60-odd troop horses go through," Captain Fitzgerald said.

"[Rusty] had a pretty charmed life because there was no need to do a lot of training with him, he took to everything like a duck to water. Most unusual. We need 10 more like him."

Rusty retired in 2009 and was greatly missed by ACT audiences, Captain Fitzgerald said.

"People used to know it was him and they’d seek him out and pat him and all that sort of stuff.

"He had a big fan club in Canberra."

Rusty died on February 24 of old age.

For the second year, a standardbred gelding named Bill will appear as the riderless horse in Canberra.

Bill will be led by Captain Fitzgerald dressed as an Officer of the Australian Flying Corps in France 1918.