1)
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What
do your horses eat?
Our horses
eat hay and grain at regularly scheduled meal times, and also
have supplemental hay when deployed on patrol. Whether at
the stable or on the street, our horses also have an abundant
supply of water. All of our horses enjoy occasional treats
such as carrots, apples, and peppermints.
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2)
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Where
do you keep your horses?
Our horses
are stabled at a private boarding facility in Afton. Each
horse has access to private stalls and exterior paddocks.
Once we groom our horses and load them into the trailer, it
only takes us 30 minutes to arrive in the City of Saint Paul.
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3)
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Do
your horses bite?
Our horses,
like all horses, are herd animals and can occasionally bite
each other. We discourage this behavior as much as possible.
Our horses generally do not bite humans with the intent of
inflicting harm, but they can mistake body parts like fingers
and hair for possible food. Please ask us for permission to
pet our horses, and remember not to put your hands near the
horse's mouth without prior approval.
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4)
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How
do horses react to hot and cold weather?
Our horses,
especially the drafts, develop thick winter coats which allow
them to remain warm during cold months. Horses have a more
difficult time coping with the heat and humidity. By making
sure they have an adequate diet much of the effects of heat
can be mitigated. During especially hot days when the temperature
and dew point reach dangerous levels, we cool off our horses
with fans and cold water showers.
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5)
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How
long do horses live?
While
life expectancy varies with breed, horses generally live around
25-30 years.
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6)
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Do
you clean up the horse droppings?
By law
we are not required to clean up after our horses while on
patrol. However, we do make every attempt to clean up when
the droppings fall in unwanted areas such as sidewalks, private
driveways and yards, crosswalks, and in front of eating establishments.
If a citizen requests that we clean up droppings, we make
every attempt to do so. Horse dung has no protein in it, and
is primarily made up of hay, grain, and water. Droppings decompose
very quickly.
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7)
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How
is the height of a horse measured?
A horse
is measured from the ground to its withers (at the base of
the neck). The unit of measurement is called a hand, which
is equal to 4 inches. Measurement by this means was first
recorded in ancient Egypt.
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8)
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Are
your horses male or female?
We generally
utilize geldings as police horses. Geldings are males that
are unable to reproduce. Geldings generally have more even
temperaments than other horses.
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9)
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Can
we pet your horses?
Provided
that we are not engaged in a police activity such as a traffic
stop, custodial arrest or response to a crime problem we encourage
you to come and say hello to us and our mounts. Please be
sure to ask for permission before petting our horses. Also,
never approach a horse from the rear. If the horse is startled,
it may kick with its powerful hind legs and cause serious
injury to bystanders.
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10)
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Have
your horses always been police horses? Do they ever "retire"?
It is
a relatively extensive process in determining whether a horse
is fit to be a police horse, with consideration given to anatomical,
physiological, and personality evaluation. Most horses are
several years old and "green broke" before being
considered. There is no set time period for their utilization
as police horses, but when a horse appears ready to retire
we find a good home for him.
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11)
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Who
owns the horses?
The city
of Saint Paul owns the horses.
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12)
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Why
do your horses wear those bands around their legs while on patrol?
Those
bands are simply a reflective Velcro fabric that acts as a
visibility safety feature while working in and around traffic.
They do not constrict the horse's legs, and are not equine
leg wraps.
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13)
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Do
you take care of your horses?
While
the staff at our stable does an excellent job of maintaining
stalls, paddocks, and providing adequate shelter, food, and
water, we take great pride in caring for our horses. Our horses
are groomed by their riders every day they work. We monitor
them for any ailments, and make sure they receive top-notch
veterinary and farrier care. When we are on the streets of
Saint Paul, we always make sure that we have a good supply
of hay and water. Bottom line: If we take care of our horses,
they will take care of us.
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14)
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How
often do you train your horses?
Our horses
(and riders!) are in constant training. While we do hold formal
training, being on the streets of Saint Paul every day presents
many opportunities for enhancement of skills. Horses, being
prey animals, have a strong flight response. Sights, sounds,
smells, tactile experiences...all of them can induce a horse
to "spook". We take sensory training as seriously
as we do equitation and horsemanship.
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15)
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How
many mounted units are in the state of Minnesota?
There
are two mounted units consisting of sworn police officers
and maintained by municipal departments. They are Saint
Paul & Minneapolis
in Minnesota.
In addition
to these units, there are county-based "posses"
that operate under the auspices of respective sheriff's offices
throughout the state. The Minnesota
Mounted Posse Association facilitates inter-agency communication
and networking.
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16)
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Why
do you have draft horses? Do they make good police horses?
Draft
horses were originally bred to serve as war horses. They would
haul the machinery of war to the battlefield. They also served,
and still serve, as implements of husbandry. Amish farmers
often use drafts to haul plows and carts. Drafts also moved
heavy loads, from trains being loaded on tracks to timber
felled in remote forests. While their size is certainly a
testament to their past, their demeanor is really what separates
them from other breeds. All of this hard labor seems to have
imparted a calmness that lends itself as a major advantage
for the police horse.
The size
of the draft exudes intimidation, which can be useful in crowd
control and enforcement situations. Conversely, size can also
endear people to these animals in community outreach situations.
People seem drawn to them. The calm demeanor of the draft
breeds naturally lends to the overall fitness of a horse to
deal with the sometimes chaotic environments of police work.
While hot bloods (such as thoroughbreds) and warm bloods (such
as quarter horses) may "spook" at certain situations,
the draft seems well positioned to be less affected by similar
stimuli.
Having
the draft horse bred with a smaller breed, can keep the horse
at a smaller and more athletic size, while maintaining that
quiet work mentality.
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17)
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I'm
having an event and would like to request the Mounted Unit.
Who do I contact?
Please
contact Randy Sparling at info@stpaulmountedpolice.org
for more information.
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18)
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I'd
like to support the Saint Paul Police Mounted Patrol Foundation.
How can I help?
There
are many ways to show your support. Let city government officials
know that you appreciate this service that the police department
provides. "Like" us on Facebook.
Purchase
our merchandise online or at our Foundation
events. Volunteer at
some of our events. Become a donor
and directly impact the work we do every day.
We thank
you for visiting our website!
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19)
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Clean
Up of Horse Droppings
During their patrols in the City, the horses will often deposit
manure. The officers seek to clean up after their horses,
but if you are concerned that adequate clean-up has not occurred,
please consider contacting Sergeant Valarie Namen (the officer
who supervises the Mounted Unit) at (651) 266-5798 to let her
know the location that needs attention. |