              Fox Trotters As Police Horses
                           Article for The Missouri Fox Trotter Newsletter:
                                                   by Lynne Stokes

And now, another interesting career for a Missouri Fox Trotter. I would like to introduce you to Whiskey Bay (Whiskey) a twelve year old, 16H, 1450 pound gelding. Whiskey works as a police horse for the National Park Service at the Arch in Saint Louis, Missouri. Whiskey was chosen for the unit, because of his size, good feet, intelligence and temperament. From the information I have acquired, Whiskey is very indicative of the breed. The intelligence is one of the most beneficial traits the Fox Trotter has for Police work. Amazingly, a good portion of the people who meet Whiskey on the Arch grounds look at him and say that he looks intelligent, and "up to something". He delights in investigating all sorts of things from sprinklers, garbage cans, baby strollers, backpacks, pocketbooks, and if I'm not looking coolers.

Whiskey exhibits an inquisitive nature in his ability to untie knots, open the gate at the turnout (letting the other two horses out) and knowing that if he decides to stay at the barn, most humans will eventually give up on the idea of going to the park. Whiskey has also proven that he knows when to be a wonderful, friendly, horse and when to act the big intimidating police horse during arrests. Often, he will put his head into the lap of a wheelchair bound person, or just let a small child discover his legs and feet by standing perfectly still. The Fox Trotter breed is excellent for police work, as they enjoy people and are eager to please. They are easy to train, and accept odd situations with a minimum of fuss. The most pleasurable part of training the Fox Trotter is that I rarely need to revisit a section of nuisance training, such as sirens, flags, construction equipment, balloons, trains, and other aspects of our daily routine.

Now that I have close experience with the Missouri Fox Trotter, I would recommend the breed to other police departments and people who are looking for a good horse that can apply what he has learned and accept new situations and obstacles. In addition to the intelligence, the Fox Trotter's gait and endurance make him an excellent police mount. The gait sure saves wear and tear on the back, and the endurance means he can work a long day and not fatigue.

The National Park Service generally buys its horses. Sometimes they are donated. The National Park Service accepts donated horses on a trial basis for work as police horses. We arrange a 30 - 90 day trial to see if the horse will like the job, handle his surroundings, and learn from the other horses. If he (geldings only) is accepted for donation, then the person receives a Federal tax write off for the value of the horse. In addition to the tax write off, the donator may visit the horse and be kept updated on how he's doing. When the horse is ready to retire for mental or physical reasons, I initiate the search for a new home. The person is interviewed, rides the horse (if he can be ridden) and a site visit is conducted to ensure that the horse will be properly housed and cared for. At the time of adoption the adopter will sign a written statement agreeing not to sell or slaughter the animal, and to keep the horse in the condition set out. If there comes a time when the person is no longer able to care for the horse, they will call the National Park Service and we will assist in placing the horse in another home. The National Park Service takes steps to ensure that when the horse retires, he has a good, safe home befitting a horse who has put in many years of service.

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