Horse Mounted an Overview

The United States Park Police Horse Mounted Unit is one of the oldest established police equestrian units in the United States. Established in 1934 with one horse that was rented from a local stable. However, as the value of the mounted unit was proven, it was expanded to an operational strength that patrols and provides protection in the Washington Metropolitan Area as well as New York and San Francisco.

The first use of horses by the Park Police followed the general trail and error method that prevailed throughout much of police work in those days. Rock Creek Park, a 1900-acre tract of heavily wooded terrain lying in the heart of Washington, D.C. is interspersed with equestrian trails that required special policing methods for which the horse is ideally suited. Open park areas with open spaces, picnic areas, ball fields and other activities were soon found to be places where horses could patrol more effectively than foot officers or motorized vehicles. Because of this, stables were erected and new horse mounted beats were established.

The Nation's Capitol hosts many civic functions each year. Some of them are annual events and some have a national and international character, such as the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Christmas Pageant of Peace and the Presidential Inauguration. During the 1960's and the 1970's, the horses, in addition to being an attractive unit for display in parades, were found to be highly effective in crowd and traffic management at these functions. The horses were properly trained and conditioned to maneuver in crowds of people and through heavily traveled roadways so they would not endanger the public, themselves, or other riders.

The era of the 1960's brought millions of peaceful demonstrators to Washington, D.C. Then in the early 1970's, a new dimension arose - large scale violent demonstrations. Wanton destruction of property and attacks on other persons with opposing views became the rule rather than the exception. The Mounted Police Officers were put to new tests. After each demonstration, critiques were held, new methods of training were developed, new equipment was evaluated and new ways of managing and dispersing crowds were developed. A new emphasis was placed on developing training for the mounted police officer, the U. S. Park Police Mounted Officer. The U. S. Park Police Mounted training program has evolved into one of the most well known and respected programs worldwide. The current 400-hour curriculum is structured as if the student's first contact with the horse was when they walked into the U. S. Park Police training facility. Graduates are capable of not only providing effective horse mounted patrol, but can manage their own police patrol program.

By being actively engaged in virtually all major demonstrations in the Washington Metropolitan Area, the U. S. Park Police Horse Mounted Unit has gained valuable knowledge and expertise in managing crowds and quelling disturbances with little or no serious injuries to the demonstrators, spectators, horse or rider. The Unit's reputation and expertise lead to a special invitation to provide 25 Horse Mounted Officers to patrol Centennial Park during the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia. Sadly, it took a tragedy to show what the unit could do in a very demanding situation. Secretary Babbitt at the 1996 Olympic Games said " The officers clearly proved to be the most effective public relations unit and the most favorable method of crowd control at the Olympic games". The Unit also travels to Camp David at the request of the U. S. Secret Service and provides horses for the President and the first family. The unit continues to train for Civil Disturbances and was instrumental in handling the large crowds during the 2000- Millennium Celebration the World Bank International Monetary Funds demonstration any many others.

The U. S. Park Police Horse Mounted Training Staff receives numerous requests from outside agencies to provide them with training. This agency has assisted the U. S. Army, U. S. Secret Service as well as police departments from Maryland, New York, West Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Colorado, New Mexico and many others. Instructors are regularly requested to provide training at police seminars as mounted colloquiums held throughout the United States. The United States Park Police Horse Mounted Unit offer the 400-hour Remount training "Free of charge" to outside Law Enforcement agencies.