Step Three - Developing a Budget Outline

Program Costs: Overhead
Office space
Manuals, flyers, directives
Signs, Banners, etc.
Clerical time
Training of officers and horses* - records systems
Computer for word processing and records keeping
(Keep it compatible with other units)

Program Costs: Horses and Care
(Assuming all horses are in place - no purchases)
All prices are West Coast Based and are "Rules of Thumb" (ROT)

• Stall and Barn Maintenance ($50.00 - $300 per horse and/or stall per month)
  
• This is basic wear and tear upkeep on building
  
• Electrical - Lighting and power
  
• Plumbing - hoses and stall pans (fees, repairs upkeep)
  
• Stall Shavings - $3.00 per day per stall
  

Horse Food

• Hay (ROT 1 to 2 bale of alfa per horse per week)
  
• Your vet should direct feeding schedules, supplements, rotations of food
  
• Grain - this must be carefully considered as to type and amounts - ck the vet
  
• Salts and mineral
  
• Pasture time is supplemental, not a replacement, for a vet approved feeding program. These are working animal that will have stress, action, and reaction
• issues unlike the family pleasure horse. Feeding will effect behavior.
  

Vet Care
ROT $50.00 per horse per month (averaging)
Wormers and assorted over-the-counter medication $10.00 per horse per mnth

There should be an "Emergency Contigency" for horse accidents

Vet transport for injured horse should be considered

I assume you have no breeding program

Ferrier Services

Shoes every 4 to 6 week for each horse. You may need special shoes if working on hard surfaces (Calif prices are $30-$40 per shoeing). If there's a ferrier's school nearby - they may give you a better break. DO NOT SKIMP ON SHOES - you can cripple a horse quickly by messing with their feet.

Horse Tack:

Police saddles (depending on gizzmos) run from $650 to $900 new
Bridles, and assorted leather $300 to $400 New
Leg guards, blankets, fly masks $200-$300 new
Fort Lauderdal PD has a cost research page

*Training:
We have a mounted police training events page for you.

Horses, depending on level of sophistication (routine patrol to riot control) each horse will have different learning curves. We have a course here in Sacramento for horse and rider that runs five (5) days. Horses are expected to be basically trained for forward, stop, side passing, and backing. There is a "Weeding Out" on day one where dangerous horses are eliminated from the school. Horse come back every year for refreshment and update training.

Officers, our experience is that the officer must have at least 3 or more years of service as a field officer before entering mounted patrol. Riding skills can be taught either through private or group lessons - many agencies have a "qualification" course to be sure the rider officer has the basic horse skills and is not an "Urban Cowboy". Our cavalry group uses a buddy system with new horses and riders. Like horse, officers need annual skills training (e.g. K-9 handlers).

In California an officer can be "certified" as a mounted officer. Our certification are Basic, Intermediate and Trainer. The Sacramento Sheriff's Department sponsors this POST course once a year. I believe their tuition is $675 per person for 5 days and includes some meals. Travel, lodging and other per diem are agency responsibilities.

Stan Buscovich, SFPD retired, has already written the best book on mounted training. Ceremonial Functions of a Mounted Unit

Insurances:

This may not be an issue with the federal government, but all our law agencies have coverage for accidents, injuries and property damage.

Miscellanous:

Labor for stable and grounds
Fence and gate repairs
Pasture watering
Oil, gas, maintenance of gounds equipment (You said you already had vehicles and trailers for horse transport)
Specialize police uniforms, saddle bag equipment, safety gear