Product Spotlight: Mounted Gear
Mounted police units have proven their worth for cities and towns throughout the U.S. and other countries. More than 40 states have invested in approximately 150 mounted police units, excluding those at the border and national parks. New York City has over 100 horses and officers patrolling the nation’s largest city.
Law enforcement agencies and political leaders generally agree that having police on horseback helps keep communities safer. Still, the elevated position and nature of handling a horse in escalating situations put officers at greater risk. By understanding what mounted police do, their inherent benefits, and the risks associated with these special units, departments can make informed decisions about personal protective equipment (PPE) and riot gear.
Duties and Benefits of Mounted Police Units
Developing and maintaining a mounted police unit has been a tremendous boon for communities. From a public relations standpoint, horses help reassure youngsters that police officers are there to help. Although we know why police are heavily armed as adults, consider what a fully outfitted patrol officer looks like.
Men and women wear communication devices strapped to their uniforms and duty holsters with defensive tools, a taser, and a firearm. Modern law enforcement officials are forced to adorn gear that makes them appear like soldiers going into battle.
Docile and beautiful horses help soften the image and create opportunities for increased community interaction, especially with youngsters. These are duties police on horseback perform that support safe cities and towns.
Crowd Control
A horse weighs over 1,000 pounds, and its sheer girth is a crowd-control asset. Mounted police units can advance on unruly mobs and disperse them, minimizing property damage and hot tempers.
Pursuing Perpetrators
Criminals who flee the scene on foot have a distinct advantage in congested cities. Along with the adrenaline accompanying their flight response, officers cannot always follow thieves and violent offenders with cruisers or overtake them in a foot race. Mounted officers can negotiate traffic and follow criminals over uneven terrain. The four-legged mounts are faster and possess greater endurance than humans. Mounted police can catch perpetrators who might otherwise escape and commit another crime.
Search and Rescue
The ability of horses and riders to cover a wide sweeping area makes mounted units ideal for searches and rescues. This holds particularly true in places with rugged landscapes and limited visibility. A sheriff on horseback can locate lost or injured parties in forests, mountainsides, and arid areas, among others. Essentially, mounted units help save lives.
For all the benefits community members gain, the women and men who sign up for these particular units understand they are taking a greater risk.
Dangers Associated with Mounted Police
It may come as something of a surprise, but mounted police officers suffer 2-3 times the number of injuries as their counterparts. While handling a half-ton animal results in a high percentage of workplace injuries, there are other ways police on horseback take more significant risks than non-mounted patrol officers.
- Hard Impact Falls from Height
- Assailants Attacking Exposed Legs
- Burns from Molotov Cocktails
- Bricks and Hard Objects Thrown by Rioters
While effective at crowd control, mounted police often become the primary targets of miscreants and violent felons. Building an inventory of PPE and riot gear specifically designed for men and women on horses is essential to keep peace officers safe.
Necessary Mounted Police Protective Gear
Law enforcement agencies and municipalities can reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities by creating an inventory of PPE and riot gear for mounted police officers. The riot suits must be fire- and stab-resistant, mitigate the effects of blunt-force trauma, and serve as a base PPE that can be quickly accessorized with the following.
- Protective Gloves
- Thigh and Shin Plates
- Arm and Elbow Plates
- Chest and Back Plates
- Foot Protections
- Riot Helmets
- Face Shields
- Integrated Hydration System
- Body Cam Accessibility
A mounted riot suit must also be lightweight and comfortable, allowing officers to dismount safely. Although police on horseback are not necessarily tasked with chasing down perpetrators on foot, their protective gear must enable them to move freely and maintain their agility in critical situations.
Haven Gear Riot Suits & Accessories Maximize Mounted Police Safety
Haven Gear gives mounted police units the bodily protections they need to deal with volatile situations and complete their shift unharmed. If you want more information about mounted riot suits, accessories, or protective equipment, contact Haven Gear by filling out our submission form. We look forward to working with you.