Mounted Patrol

FIVE ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES of a MOUNTED PATROL

HORSE by Suzanne D'Ambrose

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, serving as a bike patrol special officer, as well as a physical trainer for Monmouth County Police Academy.

Forward

by Phil LeConte

Author with photographer in Austin, Texas 2009.

Horses are still depended on by public safety professionals all over the world. Sometimes ceremonially, but more often than not for very practical reasons.

define her character. As I looked over the attributes Suzanne has selected for our book (courageous, friendly, intelligent, dependable and love of work) it occurs to me that each perfectly describe the author herself.

Preparing a horse for mounted patrol requires months of specialized training. This book focuses on the important task of selecting equine candidates for this rigorous training -- a horse with the "right stuff"! For this we asked Suzanne D'Ambrose, a veteran law enforcement officer and skilled horsewoman to define the "Five Essential Attributes" a horse requires to successfully complete mounted patrol training and excel once on the job.

I speak on behalf of so many in our organization (June, Kelly, John, David and Chaplain Fair to name a few) when I say that I absolutely adore Suzanne! To use a phrase right out of the Cowgirl's Handbook, she's a "hoot and a holler" and a terrific lady. That the American Association of Police Officers has been able to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with the law enforcement community and now, through this book, with young people, is a source of enormous pride and satisfaction for us all!

Suzanne has been a dear friend for many years. Over that time, it is fair to say that I have learned a great deal about her core attributes -- qualities that truly

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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 to look for in a four-legged mounted patrol partner. Let's consider the top five essential qualities of a perfect horse for mounted patrol.

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Attribute #1: Courageous 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 any moment. He must be strong enough to obey the patrol officer and not panic in dangerous situations.

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Attribute #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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Attribute #3 Friendly People love horses and a mounted patrol horse must enjoy meeting people who approach him.

to stand patiently when the police officer answers questions that the people may ask of him.

Adults and children will want to pet him. He needs

He must never be a biter or a kicker.

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Attribute #4 Dependable 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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Attribute #5 Love of 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.

patrolling the streets and park. An eager disposition is the final essential attribute in selecting a perfect mounted patrol horse.

The horse must truly love

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ADVICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE ON HOW TO PREPARE FOR MOUNTED PATROL: There are many things you can do to prepare yourself for mounted patrol.

volunteer with organizations that care for retired race horses or horses needing a home.

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 afford them.

Get to know a person who is a mounted patrol officer. Ask if you can tag along. Something I find very rewarding is volunteering with the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. (Adoptahorse.org). The organization places retired harness racers in loving homes, as well as with police departments with mounted patrol units.

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 23

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 New Jersey, her Masters in Education from Seton Hall University and her law enforcement education from Monmouth County Police Academy in Freehold, NJ.

for over 10 years, 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 (Adoptahorse.org), an organization that places retired harness racers in loving homes, as well as with police departments with mounted patrol units.

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

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Suzanne in Austin, Texas 2009

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Acknowledgements Sgt. Anthony French, Austin, Texas Mounted Police Senior Police Officer Terri Wilson, Austin, Texas Mounted Police John Schneiter, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin Chaplain David J. Fair, PhD, Brownwood, Texas Austin Police Department June Mellon & Kelly LeConte

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL LECONTE PUBLISHED by the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF POLICE OFFICERS