Red Hobo, an 8-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter gelding, began his service in law enforcement about one and a half years ago as a member of the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol.  Shortly thereafter, he and I along with mounted officers from several surrounding law enforcement agencies attended Alpha-Omega Mounted Services mounted police school.  We participated in a week of intensive training that included equitation, tactical formations, crowd control, sensory and obstacle training, vehicle stops, mounted officer survival, shots fired, search and rescue, and trailering.  Hobo was the only Missouri Foxtrotter in the group of 20, the others being mostly quarter horses.

 Each morning during warm-up, officers switched horses several times and I must say Hobo received nothing but compliments from other officers after they had ridden him.
Following the graduation ceremony, as we were exiting the arena, Alpha-Omega Instructor Jim Weisbeck, (Ret.) Sgt. New York State Police Mounted Unit, called me to the side.  He told me that Hobo was a  fine horse and that if I continued to work with him he would be an excellent police horse.  I held this compliment with highest regard.

The first of this year brought change for Hobo and me as I left the Sheriff’s Office and joined the Monroe Police Department.  MPD utilizes their mounted unit, which comprises full-time and reserve officers, as an integral part of law enforcement.  Unlike full-time mounted units, whose horses are on the street every day, our horses are used primarily for large crowd type details and their exposure is sporadic. This typically isn’t a major problem for them, though, the exception being the annual Mardi Gras parade.  However, we train regularly, once a month, and prior to a major detail, such as the Mardi Gras parade, we will train four or five weekends leading up to the detail.  

Once a year 100,000+ people line a two-mile stretch through town for a 3-hour parade. 
Crowd control is an overwhelming job for law enforcement and the mounted units are worth their weight in gold.  It is said that one mounted officer is equal to ten officers on foot in a crowd and having worked this parade on foot several years prior, and I would have to agree.  Much can be said for a horse that will allow an officer to press him into a crowd of hundreds of people screaming, waving their arms, and throwing things.  During these situations, horses are vulnerable to be slapped, kicked, or even burned with cigarettes and it is of utmost importance that he maintains his composure and not kick or bolt. In addition, there are “boogers” on the ground such as glass bottles, trash, and even small children that can be unseen hazards. As a precaution against glass and other sharp objects, Hobo is shod with leather pads under each shoe for this detail.  Noise can also be a problem with sirens screaming in the parade and at times when close to a unit, I have been unable to hear my own radio through the headset.  In order to protect Hobo’s  hearing,cotton balls are put in his ears.  This allows him to stay calmer and better tolerate the whole ordeal.  This parade detail is a true test of a police horse’s ability and Hobo came through withflying colors.

Red Hobo is a pleasure for anyone to take on a leisurely trail ride and when it comes time to go to work as a police officer he has proven that the Missouri Fox Trotter is up to the task.  After showing him for the first time last summer at the Louisiana Championship in Monroe and winning first place in the Model Class and additional placings in performance classes, the rest of the officers in our unit affectionately refer to him as “Sir” Hobo.
In my opinion, Hobo exemplifies the versatility of the Missouri Foxtrotter breed from trail riding to the show ring to law enforcement.

In closing, I would like to mention the loss of two of our best police horses from our mounted units this past year.  Leroy, belonging to Ofc. Ted Kincannon, died of a stroke while working at a highschool football game.   Kojak, belonging to Dpt. Steve Johnston, suffered a broken leg after apparently being kicked by another horse in the pasture.  These horses had the respect of every officer in our units and will be missed.

Copyright©2000 Colby Sheppard for the Missouri Fox trotter News. All rights reserved.

Back to Headlines