Horse Mounted Patrol

 

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area's Mounted Patrol Program was established in 1976 to complement and expand park services to the backcountry trails. The program is run by National Park Service Rangers and has been volunteer operated since the 1980’s. Up until 2017 the horses were based in Tennessee Valley but are now situated in the historic Rodeo Valley stables in the Marin Headlands - a facility that is shares with the Presidio Riding Club. The volunteer mounted patrol continues to serve as the "eyes and ears" of the park rangers and provide valuable support with visitor safety. Currently a team of 26 dedicated local Volunteers in Parks (VIP’s) manage every aspect of care and training for the patrol horses, under the leadership of the US Park Ranger Horse Mounted Patrol Program Manager. These special horses are park ambassadors, giving a friendly hello to all visitors they see on the trails in the Marin headlands and Rodeo Beach area of the GGNRA.

While on horse patrol, the uniformed volunteers provide valuable extended ranger services by watching for public safety concerns, for instance hazardous trail conditions and visitors needing emergency assistance, and reporting issues back to park rangers. The efforts of the volunteers also play a critical role in the preservation of park resources and visitor education, as they chat to visitors about sharing multi use trails safely and the importance of staying out of sensitive and closed habitats. Patrol volunteers are always happy to provide additional park and trail information to visitors, and to talk about the horses of course!

 

It takes a special kind of horse to become an NPS patrol horse.

Meet our current four-legged rangers:

 

Cooper

Cooper is still in his training to become a full patrol horse, but with his striking good looks and steady outlook on life, he is on his way to being a great addition to the team!

 

Cobo

Cobo is a pretty buckskin of the quarter horse breed. The youngest of the patrol horses, Cobo patrols the trails in a laid back way and loves to stop and say hi to visitors!

 

Irish Red

Irish Red is a chestnut Morgan horse who is a real gentle giant. The Morgan breed is known for its strength, stamina and easy nature, all characteristics that make Red a great patrol horse!

 

Next time you see one of our patrol horses, make sure to stop and say Hi!

Read more about the program via article by Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: 'The GGNRA's Most Unique Volunteers: Horse Mounted Patrol Keeps Parks Safe'.

For more information about the program and how you can get involved, please contact Chris Newman: e-mail us