TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Mounted Officers Graduate From Intense Course

ADVERTISEMENT

By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: November 14, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Helmets and harnesses flashed in the afternoon sun as 30 riders and their horses synchronized their way through the final exam.

On display Tuesday afternoon at the county fairgrounds was the result of an exhausting crash course in the fundamentals of policing on horseback.

Starting early Saturday, civilian volunteers and uniformed officers mounted their steeds for 40 hours of training on how to effectively use formations to control crowds. The six students in the class aiming for "instructor" status completed a 60-hour course.

On Monday, for instance, pupils were in the saddle from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Their hard work was evident during a 30-minute demonstration for the friends and family that assembled on bleachers to cheer them on.

With instructor Capt. Barry McKie shouting his commands over the trill of Sousa marches, the riders led their horses through increasingly difficult maneuvers.

In close synchronization, riders divided into columns, then regrouped before splitting into different formations. They rode in pairs, then four abreast, now seven across in what looked like the beginnings of a cavalry charge.

The real crowd pleaser was the "Catherine Wheel," in which up to eight horses kept in a straight line as they radiated 360 degrees. All the horses eventually got into the act as they revolved in tighter and tighter circles.

The apparent ease with which the riders completed the tasks belied the amount of training required to convince their horses to cooperate.

As McKie explains, horses are herd animals by nature and have an establishing pecking order. The chief obstacle in getting horses to perform together is overcoming those strong and submissive personalities so that everyone performs on the same plane, said McKie, who spent 26 years instructing Queen Elizabeth's Household Calvary.

A key to conditioning horses is developing a bond between the animal and the rider. The horse picks up on the body language and even the breathing patterns of the rider, so it's critical that the rider remain calm in tight situations, McKie said.

Much like the patchwork of colors on the horses' hides, a variety of uniforms and patches were also on display Tuesday. Civilians, deputies and officers came from across the Tampa Bay region to earn their certificate, including Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough and Lake counties, along with the cities of Bushnell and Pinellas Park.

Hernando County's mounted unit saw the addition of two new instructors and five riders. Among them was Paul Nessler, a Spring Hill attorney, who tried out for the volunteer position several months ago with the intention of becoming a more accomplished rider.

Asked how he made it through a 12-hour day, Nessler laughed and pointed to an extra cushion on his saddle called a "seat saver."

"That's how you do it," he said.

Of all the tricks he learned, it was actually teaching his horse Nick to step sideways that proved the most difficult. But with good communication and patience, Nessler and Nick were able to accomplish more than they imagined.

"You both do so well it surprises you," he said.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT