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Riding tall in the saddle while wearing a badgeMounted officers need to be visible and proactive to maintain relevancy within modern policingApr 2, 2020
By Joe Cummings

Many agencies maintain and field full- or part-time mounted units. Some also use volunteer auxiliary, or “posse members.” What we all share in common is the realization that law enforcement’s first mode of travel – the horse – remains a valuable resource today.

In 1870, the Boston Police Department hired its first mounted officer; a year later New York City created the nation’s first mounted police unit. Today, many major metropolitan cities and smaller departments still maintain mounted patrol units.

Our job is to keep our units and ourselves relevant and plugged into modern policing.
Our job is to keep our units and ourselves relevant and plugged into modern policing. (Photo/Joe Cummings)
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Why agencies should keep mounted, bike and foot patrols
In the 19th century, horses were used primarily to transport an officer around his patrol area. If an officer made an arrest, they either walked the subject back to the jail or they called a horse-drawn patrol wagon for transport. Lawmen in the American West used the horse to cover vast expanses of land.

Mounted police have a rich heritage in an occupation that has understandably changed with the times. From advances in technology to concepts of policing, the way we do our jobs as law enforcement officers has evolved. The issue today is how mounted units can maintain their standing in departments.

The basic premise of our occupation hasn’t changed from the days when the first cops took an oath to protect and serve. We just do it from a height of 10 feet with a 1,200-pound partner. How can we stay focused on our mission in this modern age? Some agencies have disbanded their mounted units, due to cost versus reward and issues of manpower allocation.

Our job is to keep our units and ourselves relevant and plugged into modern policing. We have to make sure command staff understand what mounted units do, how we benefit our communities and how we can make our units cost-effective.

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Defending the Law: The North-West Mounted Police, 1873-1920
The Red Coats are coming! No, not the British Army but our own Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The Mounties are one of Canada's most recognizable symbols around the world, with their Stetson hats, brown Strathcona boots, and dark blue trousers with the yellow stripe down the sides. Most of all, we recognize the signature bright scarlet jackets they wear. Learn about the early development of Canada's celebrated national police force, which began as the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), through the historic places associated with this organization created to maintain law and order in Canada's West.Crest / Armoiries

In 1870, the federal government acquired the North-West Territories (present-day Alberta and Saskatchewan) from the Hudson's Bay Company. Recognizing the area as untamed and lawless, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald understood the need for a police force able to control the vast territory, especially to curtail the burgeoning whisky trade. There was also the issue of settling the West to extend Canadian sovereignty from coast to coast, which required establishing good relations between the increasing number of settlers and First Nations communities. For these and other reasons, the NWMP was established in 1873-74.

To appreciate the fascinating history of our Mounties is to understand the origins of this force. Constructed in 1874-75, Fort Livingstone, Saskatchewan was the original headquarters and one of the first posts built for the newly created NWMP. It also served as the first capital of the North-West Territories from 1876 to 1877. The fort housed 185 men until the headquarters were moved to Fort Macleod, Alberta. Named after the Assistant-Commissioner of the NWMP, James F. Macleod, it was at this post that preliminary negotiations with First Nations took place, namely the Blackfoot Confederacy. Macleod, by upholding the law and respecting the First Nations ways of life, gained the trust of the Blackfoot, which contributed to the peaceful settlement of southern Alberta.

"March West" / « Marche vers l'Ouest » On July 8, 1874, the NWMP left Fort Dufferin, Manitoba to begin their famous "March West." It was a grand spectacle: a procession of over 200 men with oxen and cattle, weaponry, 310 horses, and a three month supply of provisions advanced west with the intent of reaching southern Alberta. Determined to stop the illegal whisky trade infiltrating the unpatrolled western territory, their destination was Fort Whoop-Up, one of the earliest, largest, and best known American whisky trading posts in southern Alberta. Many Americans evaded their country's ban on illicit liquor sales by relocating across the border to Canada's west, a region which did not yet have an effective legal capacity to restrict the trade. Fort Whoop-Up, and illegal whisky trading in general, jeopardized the Canadian government's authority over its territories, and the NWMP was the solution to that problem. At La Roche Percée, Saskatchewan the Force split in half, with some diverting north to settle at a NWMP post there. The rest continued on to Fort Whoop-Up, which they reached in October, establishing their presence there. With their westward advance, the NWMP left a lasting impact of law and order and assured their place in the annals of Canadian history.

The Northwest Rebellion of 1885 is largely attributed to the constant influx of settlers to the West, coupled with the infringement of Métis rights. The NWMP became involved in the conflict, and saw action at The Battle of Duck Lake, Fort Battleford, and Batoche, among other places. "Steele's Scouts," led by Major General Samuel B. Steele of the NWMP, were ordered to apprehend Big Bear, Chief of the Plains Cree First Nation. Big Bear would eventually surrender to the NWMP at Fort Carlton.Discovery Claim NHS, Parks Canada / Lieu historique national du Canada de la Concession-de-la-Découverte, Parcs Canada

The NWMP policing efforts did not end there. On August 16, 1896, excited shouts were heard from the northern Yukon region where large quantities of gold discovered at Bonanza Creek. This triggered the Klondike Gold Rush, and led to a stampede of people flooding the sparsely populated area wanting to stake claims. This sudden influx required regulatory measures to be put in place. A small contingent of NWMP had been in the area since the early summer, but it quickly became obvious that reinforcements were needed. By 1898 there were over 250 officers stationed in the Yukon. The presence of the NWMP as a government authority became a symbol and promise of personal security amidst the frenzy of the gold rush. Fort Steele serves as a testament of the stability and order the NWMP brought to the area during those early years. The newly promoted Superintendent Samuel B. Steele, overseer of the region, best described the NWMP's impact: "The whole demeanour of the people changed the moment [the NWMP] crossed the summit. The pistol was packed in the valise and not used. The desperado, if there, had changed his ways, no one feared him." Although still a young force at the time, the NWMP's reputation had already began to grow among western settlers.

Men of the NWMP 1898 LAC / Membres du PCN-O, 1898 BAC While the NWMP was only meant as a temporary measure, their successful policing efforts continued and were eventually recognized by King Edward VII who bestowed 'Royal' to their title in 1904. Their role in Canadian society developed, particularly with their involvements in the South African War 1899-1902, as well as the First and Second World Wars. On February 1, 1920, the Royal North-West Mounted Police merged with the Dominion Police to create the police force we are now familiar with: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The motto of the Force has always remained the same: "Maintiens le Droit," meaning "Defending the Law." From its humble beginnings, the NWMP grew to symbolize Canada's commitment to this motto, and continues to do so today.

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The SFPD Mounted Patrol Unit
Our officers on horseback – and their steeds – are some of our department’s best ambassadors. They can be seen patrolling Golden Gate Park, Union Square, Pier 39 and occasionally downtown, where their height offers officers a clear view of crowds and their conspicuous presence is a major crime deterrent. But they also visit schools and show up for every big parade. You can see them at the St. Patrick’s pageant, on Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day and at the Cherry Blossom festival.

The SFPD has had its Mounted Patrol Unit continuously since 1864 – the second-longest stint in America after New York City. The horses are housed at the Fred C. Egan Police Stables in Golden Gate Park.
The SFPD Mounted Patrol Unit
Our officers on horseback – and their steeds – are some of our department’s best ambassadors. They can be seen patrolling Golden Gate Park, Union Square, Pier 39 and occasionally downtown, where their height offers officers a clear view of crowds and their conspicuous presence is a major crime deterrent. But they also visit schools and show up for every big parade. You can see them at the St. Patrick’s pageant, on Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day and at the Cherry Blossom festival.

We are here to answer all your queries, please feel free to reach out to Tek and Anne any time!

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The Way We Were: Mounted police on patrol
Bill [email protected]

A mounted police patrol, which began in Augusta in 1994, was among the first to be sacrificed by department budget cuts the next year.
Augusta law enforcement galloped forward with a new approach to law enforcement in1994 -- a mounted police "horse patrol."

The city's relatively new Riverwalk was full of people, downtown boosters were touting new restaurants, and what better way to give watchful cops a high profile that to stick them up on a horse?

Twenty-two years ago today (actually March 1), the horse cops were welcomed to downtown surveillance.

"This is another tool we're trying to give city police officers," then-Mayor Charles A. DeVaney said, as police Cpl. Gary Ison and Officer Aaron McKie took their mounts (In case you're interested, the horses' names were Apollo and Brigadier) on the first official walk on the Broad Street and Riverwalk beat.

The mounted officers began a leisurely westbound stroll up Broad Street's sidewalks, and most of those taking part in the brief ceremony probably thought they were looking at the future.

In fact, the Augusta Police Department said it planned to add two more horses and two more officers to its mounted force later in the year, and why not? The mounted patrol was one of several tactics police were adopting to help prevent crime by increasing police presence, according to Police Chief Austin McLane.

His department planned to spend about$72,000 to pay for four officers over the year, as well as$16,500 to pay a stable master. The department did not know how much it would spend on "stable maintenance." McClain added.

It is unclear if they ever did find out.

For an idea that was supposed to help police visibility, the horse cops were rarely mentioned in newspaper articles through the rest of the year. That changed in1995.

The city, it turned out, had bigger problems that didn't eat oats.

A budget crisis that would eventually drive Augusta to consolidate with Richmond County, squeezed the horse patrol into retirement. With just a little more than a year in the saddle, the mounted police were among the first to be sacrificed by department budget cuts.

A May 9,1995, story inThe Chronicle revealed the mounted officers would be transferred to the department's motorized road patrol and the horses would hopefully be returned to their original owners.

That was sad, but then it got sadder.

On May 12,1995,The Chronicle reported, then-District Attorney Danny Craig was reportedly taking the city and the police department to task because they had, he said, improperly funded the horse patrol with confiscated drug money. This was not a criminal violation, the DA said, but a civil one, because state law said such funds could not be used to "supplant funding for the general operations of this department," he said.

The horse cops went to driving cars (not mustangs) and the horses, we can only hope, were put out to greener pastures.

If you know what happened to Apollo and Brigadier, why not send an e-mail to [email protected].

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We take a look at the role of mounted police units and what it takes to do the job...
If you’ve ever seen a mounted police officer in action, you may have wondered if you or your horse have what it takes to join the forces.



Here are all your questions answered about this centuries old form of law enforcement.



Which countries use police horses?


Mounted police can be found on every continent except Antarctica.



They are particularly prevalent in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, but you can also find working units in countries as diverse as Barbados, Finland, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and Zimbabwe.



Some, such as in Belgium, are an extension of the federal police or royal es**rt.



In Latin America and Italy, it’s not uncommon to find mounted police under the auspices of the military, and mounted police are a part of the national culture.



In fact, some Italian equestrians sport police and military uniforms when representing their country in international FEI competition.

Horses make types
of police work
easier and safer
Why are horses used in police patrols?
Horses make many types of police work easier and safer. Most people are familiar with police doing crowd control on horseback, which makes sense because the height of the horse gives them better viewing.



If things get out of hand, mounted units can form a barrier better than officers on foot, and yet being on horseback gives them more flexibility than working in motor vehicles.



The conventional rule of thumb is that one officer on horseback can do the work of 10 on the ground.



There are multiple other applications for mounted patrol work, though.



For example, in Gloucestershire in the UK, the Constabulary Mounted Section has been mobilised to increase compliance with Covid-19 restrictions.



They’ve been especially active in parks and outdoor tourist areas that are harder to cover on foot or by automobile.



Horses are also commonly used in search and rescue. The Western Australia Police Force Mounted Section employs officers on horseback to look for missing persons, especially in the bush, where horses can cover more ground and go where vehicles cannot.



One of the more fun ways mounted police are utilised in Western Australia is leading ceremonies, such as VIP events and the Anzac Day Parade.



Some mounted police units travel to other areas of the globe to assist with everything from military conflicts to disaster relief.



The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, one of the most well known services in the world, has a presence in many countries, at the request of local governments, NGOs (non-governmental organisations), and other police forces. They have helped train mounted officers in many nations too.




Can anyone become a mounted officer?


In most cases, one needs to be a police officer first before joining a mounted unit.



Surprisingly, most police horse sections will accept novice riders and train them for this type of work, but it doesn’t work the other way around.



It’s easier to teach someone who is already a police officer how to ride a horse than to train a skilled rider in how to work in law enforcement.



There are exceptions, though. Volunteer units are employed for low-risk work in many locales, such as in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in the USA, a mountain ski resort that hosts frequent special events for visitors and also sees a fair amount of hiking trail accidents and lost outdoor enthusiasts.



In the American West, official mounted patrol units are often supplemented by volunteers. These auxiliary units don’t perform law enforcement tasks, but their presence in wilderness areas suppresses crime, and they’re available to help with community events and search and rescue operations.



To participate in search work, most volunteer riders also train as first responders.



This may entail becoming an EMT (emergency medical technician) or firefighter. They frequently specialise in rescues for the terrain in their area, such as working with ropes in the mountains for victims who have fallen from a height.



What type of horses are chosen for police work?


As you might expect, larger horses are generally preferred for mounted police work.



Sturdier breeds are desirable for working in unruly crowds, and they can handle long days under saddle.



Mounted units look for a combination of size, stamina, agility, and soundness when it comes to physical characteristics.





Draft horses, draft mixes, and other working breeds are particularly popular for police work. In Perth, Australia, Clydesdales and Percheron crosses are favoured.



The Houston Police Department in Texas also likes American Quarter Horses, Hanoverians, Tennessee Walkers, Dutch Warmbloods, and Thoroughbreds.



Few police departments run breeding programmes and instead prefer to source horses from their communities. In Baltimore, for instance, Amish farms are a common contributor of mounts to the Maryland-based department.



Some Baltimore horses were even rescues, after having been abandoned by previous owners.



Many police mounted departments rely on donations to get their horses. However, some are able to purchase horses using money made by impounding cash and goods during investigations.



Horses as young as two years are accepted by some units, and on the other end of the age spectrum, even 15-year-old mounts may be considered.



Typically, mares and geldings are chosen, and horses must pass a veterinary check for good health.



The temperament of a police horse is perhaps even more important than its breed or conformation.



Horses for mounted work should have a calm disposition and enjoy being around all kinds of people. Whilst they are trained to become “bombproof,” it helps if they start with an already implacable demeanour.



How are police horses trained?


Much of a law enforcement equine’s training is focused on the psychological aspects of the job.



They are exposed to all manner of booming noises and strange sights, in addition to people of all ages.



Learning to cope with fireworks, smoke, gunfire, sirens, loud music, and shrieking children is all part of their desensitisation education.



Police horses are also taught to deal with unusual footing, manoeuvring through crowds without stepping on people, and walking through water and low-visibility situations.



Depending on where they’re being used, they may also learn jumping, cattle working, and other special skills.



Some departments have their own training programmes, whilst others send their horses out to various academies or bring in expert trainers from outside.





Typically, horses accepted on contingency for police work undergo an initial training period of at least several months.



If they pass the first round of tests, horses move on to further training and are eventually integrated into public settings.



They may be matched with one officer or put into a rotation for a variety of riders.



Both horse and rider start out in easier, less stressful jobs before they are assigned to scenarios like festivals or riot control.



The training becomes increasingly high-pressure to ensure the horse can handle stimuli like heavy traffic, construction noises, and even brigades of parents with baby prams.



It’s not unusual for some horses to wash from their programmes at different stages, and this happens with humans in the system too.



Not every horse or rider is cut out for the demands of mounted police work.

270221-BIGLETTERS
What do police horses do when they’re not on duty?
Police departments have different regimens for their horses when they’re not on active duty.



Some units have their own stables where the horses remain when not working.



The Los Angeles Police Department maintains a 40-horse facility with a covered arena, horse training equipment, exercise areas for riders, and offices.



A dedicated staff grooms and cares for the horses as well as provides upkeep on the stables.



Smaller mounted units sometimes have horses live with officers or on properties nearby their homes.



They may have to provide private transportation to work locations, whereas bigger departments frequently have their own horse boxes (AKA trailers or floats).



When not on the job, police horses spend time enjoying a mix of relaxation, greeting the public, and continued training. Someone makes sure they are exercised properly and get routine vet care.



In Houston, Texas, a small group of officers has learned hoof trimming, as their equines go barefoot, the first unit in the country to do so.



They’ve been able to dispense with an outside farrier, which many units elsewhere still have to accommodate in their schedules and budgets.



The Houston department are advocates for understanding horse behaviour and communication and use Parelli Natural Horsemanship as part of their training foundation.



What happens to police horses when they retire?

Some horses go back to their original owners when they retire from the force, especially if they’re on the young side.



Others make a home with the police officer with whom they were paired.



There are numerous sanctuaries for former police horses too.



Brantôme Police Horses Maison de Repos des Chevaux is a favourite with visitors in the Dordogne department in southwestern France.



They provide a bucolic retirement environment for British police horses.



As police equines are so well trained and personable, there’s never a problem placing them in the community either.



Many departments report actually having a waiting list for retirees. They’re always well loved in retirement and of all horses have truly earned their pasture days.



Words by Patricia Salem



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Five Police Horse Units in the United States
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Mounted Police Units aren’t as prevalent as they used to be in the United States, but they are still an important part to some cities across the nation.

Many city police equine units have downsized since 2010, according to the New York Times.

Some horse units, however, are still growing and still a very prominent part of their community’s police force. Here are a few of them.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

mounted police bethlehem
The Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit is near and dear to our hearts because it is in the same city as the Straight Arrow Products, Inc. executive offices! The Bethlehem Mounted Unit recently installed a new facility and stables for their horses and it is one of the most widely recognizable parts of the city’s summer festival season.

Houston, Texas

mounted police houston
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The Houston Police Department revived the Mounted Patrol in October 1984. Funds for the new mounted unit were originally provided through a grant from the Downtown Central Business District during the tenure of Mayor Kathy Whitmire and Chief of Police Lee P. Brown, according to the unit’s website.

Houston’s Mounted Patrol is part of Strategic Operations, Homeland Security Command, Special Operations Division. The downtown business district and Hermann Park are the primary focus of Mounted Patrol, but, occasionally the mounted unit is given assignments to work with patrol divisions who are having a particular crime issue in a specific neighborhood.

Birmingham, Alabama

mounted police birmingham
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The Birmingham Police Mounted Patrol consists of officers on donated horses that do regular patrol, crowd control and take part in public relations assignments, including representing the department in the inaugural parades for presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, according to its web site. The unit was created in the mid 1970’s.



Anaheim, California

mounted police anaheim
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The Anaheim Police Department Mounted Enforcement Unit was started in the 1990’s and it’s responsibilities include working crowds at everything from the NAMM Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center to Supercross at Angel Stadium. They’ve also participated in charitable activities like visiting CHOC Children to help put some smiles on the faces of ill kids at the Orange hospital.

The unit consists of eight officers, a sergeant, lieutenant and now even a deputy chief, and their horses and is is part of the Orange County Regional Mounted Unit, which consists of the seven police agencies in O.C. with mounted units (Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Buena Park, Huntington Beach and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department).

Camden, New Jersey

mounted police camden
source

The Camden Police established a new mounted unit in the early 1990’s. When the mounted police unit was resurrected, Camden Police Captain, Raymond Massi, donated the first horse for the presentation made to the Chief of Police and the city government to support the new unit.

Visit this Wikipedia page for a more comprehensive list of mounted police units in the United States.

Do you have a great photo of your town or city’s police horses? We want to see! Post a photo or video link and the city you’re located, to our Mane ‘n Tail page and we might share it in a future post!logo1

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Chicago Tribune, September 15, 1906

poster
Under the command of Captain Barber, the new squad of mounted police in the down town district did excellent work yesterday.

It was the first day of their regular service, and working at the crowded corners of the loop district, Policeman George Wiedling and Joe Zeible were the first to receive the commendation of Captain Barber.

The force at present is composed of twenty policemen, but will later be increased to 100 officers and men.

The mounted policemen who have heretofore been stationed on the boulevards and in the parks will in the future be located at the busiest corners of the down town district, and it is expected they will play a prominent part in the regulation of traffic.

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While watching over the security of the park, its visitors and horses, the KHP Mounted Police can be seen 24 hours a day, 365 days of a year, patrolling the park’s 1,200+ acres.



The responsibilities of the KHP Mounted Police Department are:

Provide uniform patrol service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Provide traffic control and related duties for large events
Monitor and respond to the fire and security alarm system
First responders in emergency and/or crisis situations
Investigate criminal and non-criminal complaints to include personal injury and accident reports
Enforce Kentucky Administrative Regulations
Coordinate with cabinet officials and other law enforcement agencies on special events
Promote and maintain positive public relations
Maintain safe and suitable horses capable of performing police related patrols and details
Perform ceremonial duties by participating in honor guard and es**rt details


Generally, the mounted police horses are a draft or draft cross breed that are big b***d and durable, but also athletic in build. They possess a kind disposition, and are docile, friendly and curious in character. Mounted Patrols are effective for crowd control in many ways. Because of the height the officer gains when mounted (giving an overall height of almost 9 feet), officers can see over the crowd and spot problems. The highly visible officer presence can make unruly elements in a crowd think twice before creating a problem. If a disturbance does occur, mounted officers can quickly disperse an unruly crowd, most of the time without ever having to make contact with the persons being moved.

The KHP Mounted Police and the Lexington Mounted Police units host the annual National Mounted Police Colloquium and Civilian Sensory Clinic at the Kentucky Horse Park. National and international instructors are brought in to instruct both police and civilians in various types of training to include equitation, jumping, crowd control and sensory techniques. This event brings together people and horses from all around the country to learn new techniques, share ideas, and train their amazing horses. Training is always conducted in a controlled environment geared to improving the confidence of both the horse and rider.

SECURITY
The Kentucky Horse Park's Mounted Police play a role that is highly valued by police departments all over the United States - watching over the security of the park, its visitors and horses.

It is important to the Kentucky Horse Park to offer visitors a unique and educational experience during their stay. It is also important that visitors feel safe and secure while touring the grounds. The Kentucky Horse Park Mounted Patrol can be seen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, patrolling the park's 1,200+ acres.

MOUNTED POLICE CONTACT INFO
On-Duty Officer: 859-509-1450

Office: 859-259-4250

Captain Lisa Rakes, Mounted Unit Commander
E-mail: [email protected]

Sergeant David Johnson, Equine Training/Patrol Supervisor