Whether or not horses should be used in policing is a topic of debate for some. But, right or wrong, horses provide a valuable service when used in police work. While cars, SUVs, ATVs, snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles are often employed by law enforcement agencies to do their duties, the horse remains useful in a number of situations.
One of the most famous mounted police forces is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The RCMP are well known for their precision drill riding team that tours the country. But, the RCMP no longer uses horse for policing. Like many mounted police units around the world, horses are kept on for ceremonial purposes. But there are units where horses are still used in active police work.
One place that horses are more useful than motor vehicles is in crowd control. Horses put police officers higher up than those on foot, motorcycle or bicycle, allowing them to see and be seen. A mounted police officer has the advantage of seeing over a crowd. It’s easier to see what is happening and to communicate with a crowd from higher up. People (usually) instinctively will get out of the way of a horse, especially one in full riot gear. And, of course the height and size of a police horse can be intimidating for some in the crowd. A large crowd can get dangerous, so tactics used by mounted police help break crowds into smaller parts, without resorting to violence. The horses used for this type of work are often draft and draft crosses that are well trained and desensitized to noise and confusion.
Search and rescue is another line of police work where horses can’t be completely replaced by ATVs and other vehicles. When searching for a criminal, the noise of a vehicle can warn them to clear out. Horses can be almost silent. If someone is just lost and scared, the quietness of a horse can be less intimidating.
The height too, can be a benefit, as a searcher can see further than someone on an ATV or on foot. Horses can move faster, and go further than searchers on foot. They can also navigate rougher terrain and river crossings that might slow or stop a searcher on foot. And, they can get into terrain even ATVs can’t navigate. The horse isn’t just transportation however. The horse itself will notice things the searcher alone might not. “Look where the horse looks”, is something searchers learn, as horses will often notice scents or movements that humans don’t.
In urban areas, other than crowd control, mounted police patrol parks and are sometimes used in high tension neighbourhoods. The presence of a mounted officer is often enough to prevent petty crimes and antisocial behavior. While a horse used in crowd control may be intimidating in a riotous crowd, it can be quite the opposite in a neighborhood. The horse is often the starting point for communication between the police and the residents. People are more likely to interact with a police officer on a horse, than one on foot or bicycle.
Unfortunately, there are downsides to using horses in policing. As many of us know, keeping a horse is not an inexpensive endeavor and many police forces have cut their mounted units because of lack of funds. Using horses in policing puts them in harm’s way, and that evokes accusations of abuse from some animal activists. Activists fear too, that horses are kept in confined quarters, ridden on hard pavement, and lead very unnatural lives. And of course, horses make manure, which some find offensive.
Despite the controversies and downsides of policing on horseback, some police forces have either started or reformed their mounted units. Mounted police units are found in countries around the world and are serving and protecting in cities like New York, Calgary, London, St. Paul, Tokyo, Toronto and others.
Previously, the RCMP held their auction every other year. But it has been three years since the last auction and about forty horses are being offered. Online bidding has been open since mid-August for the police foundation auction ...
The debates over whether horse-drawn carriages should be used on NYC streets continue. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who promised to have the carriages shut down has now softened his stance after a carefully planned campaign ...
Whether or not horses should be used in policing is a topic of debate for some. But, right or wrong, horses provide a valuable service when used in police work. While cars, SUVs, ATVs, snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles are ...
When a police officer retires, there’s usually a ceremony to mark the occasion. After a career of putting your life on the line, you deserve some recognition. So when Duty Sergeant, an eighteen year old Clyde cross, who has been w ...
Terrifying moments were captured on video as a pit bull type dog attacked a group of a police horses during a Gasperilla parade in Florida. The dog attacked horses multiple times and police officers had to shoot the dog. None of t ...
If you’ve ever wondered how mounted police units desensitize their horses to working around crowds in stressful situations, the Columbus Mounted Police unit provides a glimpse into their training process. ...
Police were recently involved in a risky high speed chase when a horse escaped from its pasture. The horses made some dangerous evasion tactics but police were not outwitted. The pursuit ended after tense moments with suspects fin ...
The streets of Miami are a little quieter these days, just like many streets around the world. Patrolling the Miami streets are mounted police officers, and the absence of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, makes for an unusu ...
During a peaceful protest that turned ugly in London, UK a police horse bolted after being pelted with debris by violent demonstrators. Flares, bottles and sticks flew as the crowd was pushed back by mounted police officers. One o ...
There were tense moments in New York City after two mounted police officers lost their horses. When one of the officers suffered a minor health problem, both dismounted. The aptly named Freedom and his equine partner Samson were s ...
Thankfully many first responders are being trained in large animal rescue. The specialized training helps the animals of course, but also keeps the involved humans safer. After a large draft horse made a bad decision about where t ...
We are halfway through 2022 and the mares are dominating the rankings and earnings. Over 104" jumps are not uncommon, but the mares rule the highest jump records, with only a handful of stallions breaking 104.75. ...
There is a saying, desperate times call for desperate measures. And that’s what happened after a farrier was called on to trim up a very neglected pony named Spur. The method and tools used may be unorthodox, but they got the job ...
What happened to this foal’s family? She was found on a mountain road by a field officer for World Horse Welfare. There appeared to be no other horses nearby that could have been her herd. So luckily, the orphaned pony received nu ...
The Tennessee Walking Horse stallion Chemical Warfare sits in the #1 ranking as we enter the middle of June. Chemical Warfare is out of the Dixie Diamond Equine stable. Foaled April 4, 2022 he is 16.1 hands and has 15/15/15/15 con ...
It’s spring in the Fresian foaling barn and the newest addition is Saly’s new filly. This long-legged beauty’s birth was caught on the foaling camera. She doesn’t take long to stand under the watchful attention of her dam and a ca ...
Evelien Deelen, a doctoral student in cultural anthropology explores how human culture affects horse wellness. In this video, part of a series called Webinars With Wendy, she explores the different attitudes towards horses, oftent ...
Even though laws have been enacted to penalize trainers who sore Tennessee Walking Horses for competition, the practice continues. Billy Go Boy’s YouTube channel documents ‘Big Lick’ competitions, often involving horses 2 years ol ...
By 
