Jack attends a party for the children of wounded veterans recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. (photo: Darrell Lavoie)
Police Horse Profile: Jack Handsome and friendly, Jack came to the U.S. Park Police (USPP) in 2005 after working for the U.S. Capitol Police horse-mounted unit. It was an easy transition for Jack—both units patrolled large events, demonstrations, and protests in and around our nation’s capital. When the Capitol Police unit disbanded, Jack served first at the USPP Edgewater Training Barn but eventually began patrolling miles of hiking trails in Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C. In recent months, he has mostly patrolled the National Mall and grounds around the Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson memorials. Like most quarter horses, Jack works hard and makes friends quickly. He is an especially busy horse! When he is not patrolling, he might be visiting children and families of recuperating soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.He might also be participating in an annual summer program for children visiting from Ireland or an annual Christmas bazaar for the Ukrainian community. Jack loves attention, enjoys having his photo taken, and is always quick to greet visitors with a gentle nuzzle. One of Jack’s favorite pastimes is to spend time with volunteers from HOOFS.He enjoys equine massage, playing with his Equi-Spirit soccer ball, getting groomed, and being fed peeled baby carrots, blueberries, seedless red grapes, and Granny Smith apples. His favorite spot to be scratched happens to be underneath his belly just where the girth sits. If you see Jack on patrol, be sure to stop and say hello. The public will also have an opportunity to meet Jack and his stable mate, Stonewall, at an “open barn” event sometime in summer 2010. E-mail The HOOFS Fund and we'll be sure to invite you.
Newcastle, left, performs in the USPP “musical ride” at the Virginia Gold Cup in 2007. Next to him are Easy, center, and Big Mac. (photo: The HOOFS Fund)
Police Horse Profile: Newcastle
Foaled in 1994 and donated two years ago to the United States Park Police (USPP) in Washington, D.C., Newcastle stands over 16 hands. He was one of the stars of the USPP’s “musical ride” performance at the 2007 Virginia Gold Cup and at the 2007 America’s Cup of Polo at Historic Morven Park in Leesburg, Va.
Newcastle was ridden by several different officers from Maryland, D.C., and the Republic of Georgia during a 2008 10-week class at Edgewater Stables, a USPP facility in Washington’s Rock Creek Park. The HOOFS Fund donated 12 Supracor pads to help prevent back injuries among the horses used in the class, including Newcastle.
The individual horses in the department have different roles based on their strengths and weaknesses. Newcastle does not patrol the streets, but his strength and stamina mean he is well-suited to train new riders. He is a favorite among volunteers at the stables. He likes his mane and tail brushed and when someone gently rubs the area around his eyes. He prefers his personal space and is not keen on other horses stalled next to him.
Buddy was a 16-year veteran of the Ocean City Police Department. He was promoted to sergeant at his retirement in August. (photo: OCPD)
Remembrance Police horses that passed away in 2008
Chata, a 17-year veteran of the Shreveport, La., Police Department, died February 7 of an illness suspected to be cancer. Chata, an original member of the mounted unit who was near retirement, was a 21-year-old Spanish mustang. Read the official statement>
Stagecoach, a six-year veteran of the Fresno, Calif., Police Department, died after a battle with a stomach ailment, on March 19. He was a 10-year-old Standardbred. Read the official statement>
Sandy, an 11-year-old Thoroughbredserving with the United States Park Police in a training class for new mounted officers, died of an apparent aneurysm while on a training ride with officers in Washington, D.C. Buddy, a recently retired 16-year veteran of the Ocean City, Md., Police Department, was euthanized October 6 after sustaining an inoperable leg injury. He was a 27-year-old American Quarter Horse. Read the Baltimore Sun article> Floris, 21, was the oldest horse serving with the National Dutch Police Corps in the Netherlands. He died of an apparent heart attack while on patrol December 23 in the Christmas market of Almere, a city just outside Amsterdam. Floris was reportedly the favorite horse of all the police officers at his home base in the town of Nunspeet. Link to the news article in Dutch>
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