In this video, we talk to Captain Lisa Rakes, Mounted Unit Commander of the Kentucky Horse Park (KHP) Mounted Police Unit. Her partner is Oliver. The gelding is a 16-year-old Shire cross. Rakes and Oliver have been together since the gelding was 5 years old.

She is joined in this video by Officer Heather Geer, who rides Mackenzie. That gelding is a 19-year-old Dales Pony and Clydesdale cross.

Five of the unit’s 10 police horses are 15 years of age or older.

(Editor’s note: The content of this video is the expert’s approach to the topic. Please consult with your practitioner if you have questions.)

Draft Crosses as Police Horses

Captain Rakes said she likes using draft crosses for mounted police work. “They give us the size we need to be taller than the people on the ground so we can see what is going on,” she said. “People can also see us. So if they need help, or they need directions, we are 8-10 feet tall and very visible. They can easily recognize that we are the police, and they can spot us in case they need help.”

The draft-cross horses are also valued for their height and size, said Captain Rakes. “We need a horse with a little thicker build to enable us to sit on them for hours at a time,” she explained. “We put in long hours and miles of walking.” She said the draft crosses’ weight and bone structure enables them to handle walking on the pavement and the size of the officers, tack, and equipment they are carrying.

Mounted Police Horses

Captain Rakes is proud that there are different breeds used for mounted police work at the Kentucky Horse Park. Those breeds also include a Clydesdale cross, a Belgian cross, a Percheron cross, a Drum Horse, a Gypsy Vanner, and a Spotted Draft.

Two of the other police horses are 19 years old, and one is 23 years old.

Further Reading