Hooves on Duty: The History and Role of Mounted Police Units

Horses have long been linked with police forces. The French and the British were using mounted police patrols as early as the 18th century. Today, many cities around the world still use mounted police units. From federal parks to big cities, police on horses have several advantages when patrolling pedestrian crowds.

The First Mounted Police Unit in America

While mounted police units have been used in Europe since the 1700s, the first police force in America to mount an officer on a horse was in New York City in 1858. Other cities began following suit, and by 1873, the Boston Police Department hired one mounted rider. This was such a success that the department purchased 27 more horses the following year.

San Fransisco was also an early adopter of horses to the police force, and their mounted unit was established in 1874. While San Fransisco’s mounted police unit is still going strong today, Boston’s ended in 2009 amid budget cuts. As recently as 2018, business leaders tried to bring the program back to Boston’s police force, but for now, Boston’s police department is still without horses.

Mounted Police Units Today

Today, there are mounted police units still being used around the country in various cities and in the nation’s Federal Parks. The United States Park Police Horse Mounted Patrol was established in 1934 and patrols Federal Parks in New York City, Washington, DC, and San Francisco.

In San Francisco, the police horses are kept in a barn in Golden Gate Park, which is also used as a police station. The horses spend much of their days outdoors unless the weather is bad. In the barn are pictures of the horses and officers that have served over the years, and a commemorating plaque.

In Chicago, 32 horses make up the Mounted Patrol Unit, which covers areas of downtown each day and supports police presence during special events like concerts, festivals, and protests. Meanwhile, in New York, there are around 50 horses in its Mounted Unit.

The Advantage for Mounted Police Units

As technologies changed, the need for mounted police units changed as well. Today, horses are no longer the fastest way to travel. Yet, they can be more adept at moving through a crowd than a vehicle. Mounted police officers also have an advantage over officers on foot in pedestrian crowds such as at parades or festivals. Because they are higher up, they get a bird’s eye view of what’s going on around them.

The real benefit mounted police units offer today, though, is public goodwill. People love animals, and when the public approaches officers to talk about the horses, it helps police connect with their communities in a positive way.

The Best Types of Horses for Police Work

The number one character trait needed for a police horse is to have a calm temperament. These horses will be working in noisy crowds, amid congested traffic, or they may encounter loud noises like fireworks. They need to stay calm under pressure. Secondly, the horses should be intelligent and capable of completing intense training programs. According to the Chicago Police Department website, horses are chosen for “appearance, size and temperament.” And once they are chosen, they undergo “an extensive training process.” Part of the training is exposing the animals to all kinds of noises and stimuli so that when they are out in the city, they won’t startle or get easily spooked.

There are many different horse breeds around the country that are used for police work. Just a few examples include Percheron, Clydesdale, Tennessee Walker, and the American Quarter Horse.

Different departments will have different standards for which horses they choose. In New York, they only use standardbred horses, saying that thoroughbreds tend to be more lively and spirited. Many of the New York horses come through horse rescues or from the Bureau of Land Management program.

How Budget Cuts Affect Mounted Police Units

The horses need care, housing, and training. They also need transportation to events, which can get expensive. Unfortunately, some mounted police units have shrunk to small numbers while others have been cut completely, such as in Boston when departments begin number crunching.

However, for the many officers who work with horses, the benefits far outweigh the costs. The horses provide an effective public relations tool and a line of communication from the public to the police.