The Reno Police Department began its horse mounted unit in March,1992. Mounted patrol units have the unique ability to enter areas restricted to vehicle traffic, and the horses have supplemented the walking patrols during special events such as Hot August Nights and the New Years' Eve celebrations with very good results.

Crowds have been reassured by the very obvious police presence due to the horses' high visibility. The police officer mounted on horseback represents the high degree of professionalism, security, and order which the public expects will be provided by the Reno Police Department. Noting that horses are universally accepted, the mounted patrol has helped to break barriers between police and citizens with its "soft image".

The Horse Mounted Unit is well recognized for its public relations aspects, but it is also used in areas of traffic control, crime prevention, and enforcement. Again, due to its visibility, the horse and officer team is very effective at traffic control. Another function of the horse mounted unit has been its use in search and rescue.

Public relations remains the most outstanding attribute of the Horse Mounted Unit. The Horse Mounted Unit has been referred to as a "million dollar public relations tool", with good reason. The horses are easily approached, and they're friendly…and, as the saying goes in mounted circles, "you can't pet a patrol car!"

TRAINING

All horses accepted by the Horse Mounted Unit must be trained under saddle before joining the unit. Additional training of the horse by police personnel in such areas as working at all gaits, use of leads, backing, and sidepassing will usually be accomplished within six months.

More advanced training, such as crowd control, arrest techniques, mounted formations and tactics, exposure to gunfire, traffic, and other distractions will occur in the following months. It is the purpose of the unit training to lead the individual horses into their more demanding duties gently and gradually, without drastic confrontations. Eventually, all horses in the unit are expected to work in traffic, on trails, crowds, and near individual pedestrians in a calm, reliable fashion.

Photos on these pages of the Reno Police Department, Horse Mounted Unit indicate a sampling of the training that these horses and officers undergo. Use of the baton from horseback is an important skill to be mastered by the officer and accepted by the horse. Building tolerance to unusual situations (i.e. dense smoke, gunfire, loud noises, flapping paper, an unruly crowd, and fireworks) is crucial to the work of a mounted unit horse. Police work can be life-threatening. The officer and horse are a team. Reliability, especially when the going gets tough, is mandatory for both members of that elite team.

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