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The Seattle Police Department announced that, thanks to the joint efforts of the Seattle Police Foundation and the Seattle Hotel Association, Mounted Patrol Unit of one hundred years will not run out of horsepower for at least another two. Its Save Our Horses campaign hopes private donations will extend this for an additional year.

The unit has seven police horses, all quarter-horses and paint horses, geldings, named Justice, Harvest, Charlie, Tiger, Blaze, Jet, and Cody. They are based out of Westcrest Park in West Seattle. It is costly to keep the unit, considering they require new shoes every 12 weeks. The West Seattle Herald posted the SPD press release here:

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2011/02/07/news/seattle-police-foundat…-“sa

"I didn't ride much as a kid,' said Grant Ballingham, Sergeant of the Mounted Patrol Unit, who helps tend the seven-acre stable in Westcrest Park. "The training has been through the police department." Ballingham has been with the SPD for 26 years, the last six or seven as a sergeant with the patrol unit. He rides Tiger.

Said Ballingham, "We call him the 'red-headed step-child' but in the horse world it is known as 'sorrel'. We've built up a relationship. He's got a personality all his own. It took time to learn his personality and for him to learn mine. I know when he is having a good or bad day, when he's happy or unhappy. He loves dogs. He is not aggressive toward people, but is just not as cuddly as Justice. who enjoys when people pet his face.

"Justice is only 8 years old, and completed his initial training. We just don't have an officer to put on him full time. We have high hopes for him, and I think he will be a fine police horse. The horses' ages are from 8 to 17 (years old). They retire at 20, and can live another 5 or 10 years. Member of our unit with facilities for horses may adopt them. After 10 or 15 years pounding the pavement, they've earned a good retirement.

"Working with horses every day I have learned patience," he said. "They have an incredible sensitivity. They can sense when someone is being mean to them and mistreated, or respected. They return respect or disrespect. I treat the horse with equality and respect and try to understand the world through his eyes. I can make it easier for Tiger being an urban horse. This is a completely foreign environment. Tiger came from a farm in Bellingham. He likes to work. If I let him sit for three days he gets grouchy.

"The horses are very mobile, whether it's in the park or in the streets downtown," he said. "Whether we have to trot or gallop after somebody, the horses are entirely capable of doing that. I assume most folks in the city have very little experience with horses and would initially be intimidated by the size and bulk of a horse as well they should be. They are very large and powerful animals, and have an intimidating presence if we have to apply them tactically. They are trained to contain or move crowds, and to deal with unruly people. I think it would be wise if interacting with us on a horse to be respectful and compliant because the horses are going to win the argument regardless how enthusiastic you are in stressing your point."

When asked about those darting camels rumored to have been ridden by Cairo's secret police, Ballingham responded a bit wryly, "I've never ridden a camel. I tend to think, given our cultural environment, I'd get less respect on a camel than I would on a horse."

One cannot ignore the PR value of the officer on horseback meandering down a busy street or park on a sunny day.

"Our manual specifically states we'll engage in public relations," said Ballingham of the Mounted Unit. "That's a big part of what we do. Seattle is not such a crime ridden city that we have to be actively dealing with criminals every minute. Our horses are very friendly and tend to be people magnets. We hand out horse badge stickers to children. Police work can be a very negative experience in a lot of ways and being on a mounted unit can be a very positive experience. It offers excellent positive contact between community and the police department. They know we are available for service and can assist in any way.

Added Ballingham, "Chief Diaz is very intent on fighting crime, reducing fear and building a strong healthy community, and I think the horses are perfectly suited to that mission."