Thank You for Supporting the MPU!

One of the primary goals of last year’s Sponsor-a-Horse fundraiser was to raise funding that would allow Mounted Patrol Unit officers and staff to provide an enhanced level of care to the Police Horses of the MPU. 

Thanks to you and other generous donors, that vision has become a reality.

During the latter part of 2023, Mounted Patrol Unit officers and staff worked to evaluate each horse on the string, to identify issues and make a thoughtful, informed decision on what type of added care the horses would benefit from the most.

This renewed emphasis on horse health and care was sparked in part by the Unit’s transition to the Relational Policing Unit, which has resulted in an increase in both patrol deployments and attendance at community events. It was also fueled by the increase in available resources, thanks to the generous donors that participated in the Sponsor-a-Horse fundraiser and our other Mounted Patrol Unit donors.

The need for horses that are healthy, disciplined, and in excellent shape has always been there, but now the Unit had some additional resources to help support that need.   

At the end of September, the horses began receiving equine massage and bodywork, provided by Woodinville-based Talking Horse Equine Bodywork. Equine massage therapy and bodywork have a wide array of benefits, helping to enhance a horse’s overall health, mobility, and quality of life. For working horses like Seattle’s police horses, these types of treatments can help support long-term equine wellness, so that the horses are healthier and happier during their service to the Seattle community. 

In addition to therapeutic massage, Talking Horse provides equine kinesiology tape and Bemer therapy. Here are some details on the benefits of each:

Massage Therapy is just as great for horses as it is for humans! Equine massage therapy helps to alleviate muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation, plus it can boost performance, reduce stress, and prevent injury. 

Equine Kinesiology Tape (Equi-Tape) adheres to the horse’s skin to help alleviate pressure and pain, increase oxygen supply and circulation, decrease inflammation and swelling, aid in the removal of toxins, and much more. Equi-Tape is a great supplementary treatment. 

Bemer (bio-electric-magnetics-energy-regulation) Therapy increases blood circulation to promote healing and recovery, helping the horse to relax more easily before and after exertion. Like Equi-Tape, Bemer is a great supplementary treatment to other bodywork.

Brighter Days for Police Horse Blue

If you’ve ever encountered the Mounted Patrol Unit out on patrol, you’ve likely seen Police Horse Blue.

He is a classy, stunning guy and the second-most senior member of the Mounted Patrol Unit string. He will be 17 years old in May, and has served the Seattle community faithfully since 2016.

Blue had been experiencing some discomfort in his lower back, so treating his pain was a top priority for the Unit. He responded extremely well to massage, KT tape, and Bemer therapy, which brought him significant relief. During the course of his treatments, however, care staff discovered additional soreness further up his back and into his shoulder blades, where he is still very sensitive.

In addition to KT tape, massage, and Bemer, Blue’s therapeutic interventions include shockwave therapy and red-light therapy. He gets KT tape after every massage appointment and during each deployment, plus he is given a daily anti-inflammatory.

The Mounted Patrol Unit’s veterinarian has made several recommendations to further improve Blue’s back, alleviate his pain, and enhance his long-term wellness. Thanks to your support, MPU staff have identified two additional solutions to reduce Blue’s pain!

A new, custom fit saddle

The MPU’s veterinarian inspected the Unit’s equipment, including the saddles used for deployments. Through this analysis, they discovered that the Unit’s saddles are slightly tight on Blue’s shoulders, which could be contributing to his discomfort in this area. 

To help with this, the MPU is hiring a professional saddle fit consultant, who will conduct a comprehensive saddle fit evaluation and make a recommendation to help set Blue up for success. A properly fitting saddle can make an incredible difference in the comfort of both the horse and rider. Once they have the recommendation, SPF donor funding will purchase Blue a custom saddle based on the saddle consultant’s specifications. 

Chiropractic care

Blue’s veterinarian recommended equine chiropractic care to compliment Blue’s other treatments. Chiropractic care can help improve discomfort, reduce pain, alleviate lameness and stiffness, reduce muscle atrophy, and much more.

We’re so grateful for the donors who stepped up to help provide healing treatments and custom, specialized gear for the police horses of the MPU that need it the most!

Busy Fall and Winter for the MPU

The Mounted Patrol Unit was busy putting their best hooves forward at multiple community events last fall and winter, in addition to regular emphasis patrols, training, and fitness rides.

Here are a few highlights:

Holiday Grocery Shopping Spree with SPD

On Monday, November 20, Police Horse Blue, Police Horse Chance, and Police Pony Li’l Sebastian helped greet guests during the Safeway-sponsored holiday shopping spree with SPD. SPF partnered with Safeway to coordinate this event, which invited members of the Central Area Senior Center to the Rainier Valley Safeway store to pick up their Thanksgiving groceries for free. These special shoppers were matched with officers who helped them shop.

Training with Expert Clinician Joe Wolter

Earlier in November we were happy to provide some support to the Unit as it invested in specialized training for the Unit’s full-time members and its auxiliary riders. This department-funded training welcomed expert clinician Joe Wolter, who traveled to Seattle from Texas to provide three days of training for the Unit. SPF stepped up to provide breakfast and lunch for the duration of the training.

Christmas at the Barn with the Blue Hero Project

The horses were the centerpiece during Blue Hero Project’s Christmas at the Barn event, which took place in December and welcomed law enforcement families from SPD and other agencies all over our region. The day included Christmas photos with Police Horses Blue, Chance, and Police Pony Li’l Sebastian, cookie decorating, card-making, and even some horseback riding!

Ronald McDonald House Holiday Cruise with Argosy

Christmas Eve 2023 marked the return of the Ronald McDonald House Cruise with Argosy, a collaboration with Ronald McDonald House, the Seattle Police Department, and Argosy. We got to be there as so many precious families arrived via bus, escorted from RMH by SPD’s Motorcycle Unit. Once they arrived at the Shilshole Marina in Ballard, they were greeted by Seattle Pipes and Drums, SWAT, the Mounted Patrol Unit, members of the K9 Unit, the Harbor Patrol Unit, and many others, including Chief Adrian Diaz!

This was the RMH Cruise’s first year back since the pandemic and we’re so grateful we got to help make the holidays a little bit brighter for these families. Police Horses Chance, Doobie, and Blue were wonderful ambassadors for SPD and loved meeting the families from RMH.

Stay up-to-date on the Mounted Patrol Unit on our MPU webpage!