Course of Instruction
Goals
This course is designed to educate law enforcement mounted patrol officers
in the history, protocol, and precise skills necessary to perform ceremonial
functions required of a mounted unit.
It is intended to provide mounted officers with an in-depth understanding
of their responsibilities, explain how to utilize their mounted unit, and
to train them in the skills needed for properly carrying out their duties.
Learning Needs
In California alone, there are over 100 law enforcement mounted units
that fulfill many different role assignments. The two major strengths of
a mounted patrol unit are crowd control and public relations. Throughout
history, mounted (military / cavalry / law enforcement) units have fulfilled
the tasks of performing the formal ceremonies for their specific organizations
that they represent.
For the Western United States there is an annual P.O.S.T. mounted patrol
course (40 hours) held each year in Sacramento, plus numerous local programs
that instruct exclusively equestrian skills or law enforcement from a horse.
For the over 1,000 mounted patrol units throughout North America, only
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (in Ottawa, Ontario-Canada) teach a class
on mounted formal protocol. With sometimes over 50% of our job classification
in the realm of public relations (formal ceremonial functions) alone, I
saw the need for an instructional course on this subject.
It's hard to believe, but the majority of knowledge in ceremonial functions
of a mounted unit comes by word of mouth rather than manuals or written
documents.
The students, both new and senior officers, will be required to participate
in numerous formal ceremonial functions in the future with their respective
mounted units; therefore, they must know the protocol and skills necessary
to perform ceremonial duties (parades, color guards, funerals / riderless
horse details, and honor guard roles) so that they can become proficient
in their mounted / equestrian law enforcement assignment.
Priorities and Constraints
The course instructor (Stanley Buscovich), an asst. instructor / facilitator,
and two safety officers (for the riding arena) will be assigned to the
class, and all P.O.S.T. safety policies will be strictly enforced. An expanded
course outline (with goals and learning objectives) plus an hourly distribution
schedule has been prepared, so that requesting students and / or agencies
will know in advance the level and content of the course.
Instructional Blocks
1. Law Enforcement Mounted Units / Military Background
Connects unit responsibilities to mounted history, tradition and
equestrian knowledge. It also teaches the value of networking and gathering
resources and information from other mounted patrol units.
2. Protocol Rules for Ceremonial Functions
Covers mounted honor / color guard formal functions and the precise etiquette
/ regulations required.
3. Formal Events
Describes formal events within the community / department.
4. Resources, Supplies and Logistics Used to
Perform a Formal Mounted Detail
Identifies the information, equipment and conditions needed to prepare
for a mounted honor / color guard and other ceremonial functions.
5. The Mounted Drill (movements and formations)
Teaches the students 11 movements and 6 formations of the mounted drill.
6. To Execute the Precise Protocol Requirements
for a Ceremonial Function
Students will learn as well as demonstrate (O.I.C.) image, uniformity,
commands, actions-salute, and exit of a ceremonial function.
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