Five Essential Qualities

FIVE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES of a MOUNTED

PATROL

HORSE by Suzanne D'Ambrose

About the Author Suzanne D'Ambrose, New Jersey police veteran, has served on the American Association of Police Officers Senior Advisory Council for six years and the Junior Police Advisory Council for twelve years. Suzanne is a life long resident of New Jersey. She studied at Rutgers University-Cook College and received her BS from the College of NJ, her Masters in Education from Seton Hall University and her law enforcement education from Monmouth County County Police Academy in Freehold, NJ. Suzanne is currently a law enforcement instructor for the Monmouth County Vocational School,District realizing her lifelong dream of protecting and educating the community. She was with the Belmar Police Department for over 10 years,

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serving as a bike patrol special officer, as well as a physical trainer for Monmouth County Police Academy. Since childhood Suzanne has been an avid horsewoman, riding and training with family and friends. She owns a Standardbred horse named "Independent Act" or "Indy" who is an 8 year old retired harness racer. Suzanne is an active volunteer with the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. www.adoptahorse.org. An organization that places retired harness racers in loving homes, as well as with police departments with mounted patrol units.

Proud History There are certain jobs that horses do very well, and no technology has yet developed that can fully replace them. Public safety is one area in which horses are uniquely qualified. Around the world, many public safety tasks are provided by a mounted patrol officer and their four legged partner. Everything from crowd control to search and rescue efforts in areas of rugged terrain depend on mounted teams. Horses can also be used in other areas where it is necessary to avoid vehicular disruption to delicate soil or where horseback may be the only practical form of transport, such as nature reserves or wilderness areas. Park rangers and game wardens can depend on mounted patrol horses as much as they do motorized vehicles.

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Mounting Up Across America

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Mounted patrol units are a critical component of police visibility and are the best method of crowd control for festivals, parks and major sporting events. As well, they increase police visibility and provide perspective from which to monitor activity.

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There are two key ingredients to any successful mounted patrol unit.

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A Law Enforcement Officer who is a skilled rider...

...and just the right horse.

My name is Suzanne D'Ambrose. As a veteran law enforcement Officer and someone who has spent a lifetime raising and training horses, I know from experience what qualities an officer should look for in their four-legged mounted patrol partner. Let's consider the top five essential qualities of perfect horse for mounted patrol.

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Quality #1: Brave A mounted patrol horse can sometimes see strange things on the streets or in the park. He must have a "brave heart" to continue to go forward. A

simple flag or street sign may scare him at the moment. He must be strong and bring the patrol officer where he is told.

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Quality #2 Intelligent Mounted patrol horses go through challenging training. They must learn how to walk through crowds, keep people away, and be comfortable around many different obstacles. He must be smart enough to understand and do every one of the skills perfectly.

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Quality #3 Friendly People love horses and a mounted patrol horse must enjoy meeting people who approach him. Adults and children will want to pet him. He needs to stand

patiently when the police officer answers questions that the people may ask of him. He must never be a biter or a kicker.

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Quality #4 Reliable A mounted patrol horse must be reliable every day and he must give 100%. He must never turn around and want to go back to the

barn. He must load on the trailer nicely. He must trust and listen to his rider and do whatever is asked.

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Quality #5 Love the Job! All the training in the world will never make the perfect mounted patrol horse, if the horse does not like what he is doing. If he and his rider have a nice

connection, and the horse truly loves patrolling the streets and park, then that is the final step to a perfect mounted patrol horse.

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Final Thoughts GOOD ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR MOUNTED PATROL:

afford them. There are good books on the subject. Talk to the groomers and watch the farriers (a specialist in equine hoof care). You can become an intern and you can volunteer with organizations that care for retired race horses or horses needing a home. Get to know a person who is a mounted patrol officer.

There are many things you can do to prepare yourself for mounted patrol. Visit horse farms and get to know the owners. Ask them if you can help clean stalls in exchange for riding lessons if you can’t

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Acknowledgements Mounted patrol units are a critical component of police visibility and are the best method of crowd control for festivals, parks and major sporting events. As well, they increase police visibility and provide perspective from which to monitor activity. They are assigned to patrol a regular beat and special details, such as festivals, parades and other community events. Mounted patrol units are a critical component of police visibility and are the best method of crowd control for festivals, parks and major sporting events. As well, they increase police visibility and provide perspective from which to monitor activity. They are assigned to patrol a regular beat and special details, such as festivals, parades and other community events. Mounted patrol units are a critical component of police visibility and are the best method of crowd control for

festivals, parks and major sporting events. As well, they increase police visibility and provide perspective from which to monitor activity. They are assigned to patrol a regular beat and special details, such as festivals, parades and other community events. Mounted patrol units are a critical component of police visibility and are the best method of crowd control for festivals, parks and major sporting events. As well, they increase police visibility and provide perspective from which to monitor activity. They are assigned to patrol a regular beat and special details, such as festivals, parades and other community events.

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PUBLISHED by the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF POLICE OFFICERS