Whenever riders work with horses, it's natural for bonds to form between the two. Mounted policemen and their horses are no exception; they form strong bonds with their partners, especially because they spend so much time training and working together. And when those partners are separated — by a reassignment, a horse's retirement or a horse's passing — the officers mourn and miss their partners.
Mounted police are a valuable asset to the law enforcement community. According to Law Enforcement EDU, mounted police are some of the most visible members of law enforcement, thanks to the fact that they are up high and riding large horses. Mounted police can sustain a foot chase longer than foot patrol police officers can, and they have the benefit of their horses' speed to help them during the pursuit. Additionally, the horses themselves are useful in crowd control, thanks to their size and strength.
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When an officer becomes a mounted police officer, he or she receives about 400 hours of additional training. The officer learns how to care for horses, as well as how to work with and ride them. Mounted officers learn how to communicate seamlessly with their horses, and during this process, they're sure to bond with their assigned mounts.
The horses themselves also go through specialized training. Mounted police horses must learn how to stay focused in chaotic situations. They are exposed to all sorts of distractions such as loud noises, crowds, vehicles and more. This preparation and training ensures that the horses can perform appropriately when they begin their patrols.
As horse and rider get to know each other, they learn how to work together like a well-oiled machine. They develop the trust necessary when working in dangerous situations and form the same strong bonds that many riders have with their own horses.
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