03/19/2022
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.
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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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