Letter from party wanting to create a “retirement home” for police horses on 2.5 acres.

Hello Ginny,

You didn't say what part of the country you are in. I also assume you are an experience horseperson to take on this challenging responsibility adopting several retired police horses.

Here are some generic thoughts on retired police horses.

Over half, close to 2/3d's, of the mounted safety units use horses owned and cared for by individual officers. Only the very large cities, ie. Boston, New York, Chicago, etc. have their own "stable" of police horses.

To find horses for adoption, I suggest telephoning the nearest city with a population over 300,000 (+/-) and ask them for their police horse retirement procedures. Nearly every state I've researched has some type of mounted officer's association that can be a resource. Many of these associations, or member officers/supporters, have webpages. I may know who to talk to in your state if you let me know where you are.

When a "police horse" (there are other public safety units also) retires, it is usually for one or more of the following reasons:

The animal became sick, injured, or not safe for man or horse to do police work
The animal is too old, unable to be used safety (health & safety)
The animal developed an unsafe behavior (safety)

With the animal's condition in mind, a "retirement home" should screen for high expense animals. Horses can be very expensive to keep, even if they don't have problems. Most of the retired horses are very gentle and "bomb proof". This makes them good candidates for Brady Schools for youngsters. Funds from these schools can help offset upkeep costs.

A "Rule of Thumb" from cavalry days, feeding and care is a constant issue. Even if you have 2 acres per horse to roam, you will need to suppliment food with hay and other feed. You will have to spend time with the horses to ensure their wellbeing.

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People wanting to adopt 2 police horses for pleasure riding

Hello Lori and Bill,

Police trained horses are wonderful animals! They are loyal, protective and brave!

However, my problem and issues for you is that there is no way of knowing the history of the horse, its training, and rider(s) without some investigation on your part.

Police horse are retired for a variety of reasons. The two most common are health and age (health). Two others are, beyond control (uncontrollable under specific circumstances) or vices. Other police horse “retirements” included horses rejected for field service. Only 1 out 3 candidate horses make it to selection training and only 1 out the next 3 are accepted for use (LAPD Mounted Statistics 1999).

A prospective owner must carefully review the horse's health and behavior history. Some police horses' health preclude them from any strenuous use. The bad behavior horse has another set of issues to deal with.

If you are an "average" rider with experiences with temperamental equines - then proceed - but with caution! The history of the horse is everything!

A retired police horse is not for everybody, but if you are qualified they are richly deserving of a good home and caring companionship.

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A young girl wanted a police horse because she didn’t want to have to train - herself or the horse

Hi Patricia,

Not knowing where you are in our great country, my advice is to learn which public safety agencies have mounted units in your city, county, state. There is a difference with every jurisdiction. Some, have the officers OWN their horse, others buy, lease, or use horses from various sources including departmental ownership. The "life" of a police mount can vary according to use. An urban police horse (walking on asphalt and concrete for 8 hours+ per day) may have a usefulness of 7 years. A ranger police horse, backcountry patrol, working on dirt trails can last indefinitely with proper care.

You also need to think about how you will use your "Retired Horse". A police service horse has been trained, and more importantly, SENSITIZED, to specific types of environments, stimulus's, and reactive scenarios. You go on a ride with your friends, then, a group of hikers appear out of no where - in response your police horse may react to an "advociarial crowd". This usually means "regrouping" with other horses, or military maneuvers such as aggressive, full body weight, side pass, or KICKING! Many will stand their ground, not moving until a proper leg, voice, or rein command is given. Miscues by you will confuse the horse and may have consequences of their own.

Please, a healthily police service horse is very loyal, protective, and predictively responsive to past training and experience. A novice will be very surprised at the speed and veracity of the horse's reaction(s) to your commands, given past training, experience and temperament to a given situation. The situation may seem normal or understandable to you, but the horse sees it differently.

A Police Horse is a noble beast!

They have the heart of a lion and the feet of a ballerina. Usually a gelding, this four legged friend will advance, side pass, and stand bravely according to the heart and ability of the rider. If you don't understand the police horse, the horse will not serve you well. That same horse may in fact, be dangerous, in situations that the 1200 LB+ animal has been trained and experienced in their life to react in specific ways. Every agency has different training! Don't assume anything! ! ! !

When people ask my advice about "Retired Police Horses", I usually ask them to think about police K9's. Most police dogs will accept their "retirement" and will "accept" being a family pet. Dogs, like horses, that have been trained and have experienced high stress environments may not be good family candidates. Police horses, like police K-9s, will revert to their learned behaviors in a given situation! You should have personal training to respond to, or lead the horse’s behavior.

I do not want to scare you away from a retired police mount. A properly trained, cared for, and ridden police horse is the best "Bomb Proof Baby Sitter" (protective of their rider) animals believable. Always respect their size and agility.

It is your responsibility to investigate the horse you select - for what you want that horse to do. I'm sure you know that horse are creatures of habit. Will your use, e.g., parades, SARS, volunteer law enforcement work, put the horse in a situation you are unprepared for? You may need police horse rider training!

If I can be of further service, please let me know. I love these magnificent animals, but after having a pelvis and spine broken, I also know to respect their nature, experience, training, and the environment which we, as riders, place them into.

Please let me know how you do in your quest!