Lt. Newby and LEO receiving their graduation diploma at the University of Louisville Kentucky - Southern Police Institutes Basic Mounted Police Course, Ocala, Florida, 2006.

Lt. Newby and LEO pushing through barrels at the 2008 Mounted Law Enforcement Training and Critique, Tampa FL, February 2008

Lt. Newby and LEO pushing through barrels at the 2008 Mounted Law Enforcement Training and Critique, Tampa FL, February 2008

Lt. Newby and LEO an obstables at the 2008 Mounted Law Enforcement Training and Critique, Tampa FL, February 2008

Lt. Newby and LEO going over rubber tires on the ground at the 2008 Mounted Law Enforcement Training and Critique, Tampa FL, February 2008. Something that LEO had never been asked to do before.

Mr. Peppy Rio being desensitized to objects rubbing against his body as he passes through soft pool noodles. The horse then learns that he can step on colored objects on the ground without a need to be concerned.

Mr. Peppy Rio being desensitized to objects rubbing against his body as he passes through soft pool noodles.

Mr. Peppy Rio being desensitized to objects on the ground that he is to step over.

Mr. Peppy Rio is being trained to push through objects that its rider wants him to go through. Here the horse is pushing through yellow crime-scene tape that would commonly be found at police scenes.

A soft foam ball is used to desenitize Mr. Peppy Rio to objects bounding off of him.

A soft pool noodle is rubbed all over the horse to desensitize the horse to colorful objects touching them.

A soft pool noodle is rubbed all over the horse to desensitize the horse to colorful objects touching them.

Horses are naturally concerned about black objects on the ground. They perceive these as a deep, black hole that they will fall into. Mr. Peppy Rio has realized, through training, that he no longer needs to be concerned about this object.

Volunteers Donna Halstead on Mr. Peppy Rio and Jeffrey Brown on Leo continue to reinforce to the horses that the large black tarp should be of no concern to them.

Many horses are naturally shy of waving flags on the ground near them, and especially being carried by its rider. Mr. Peppy Rio has learned through training that he need not fear this object.

Horses are naturally concerned about certain colors such as red and yellow. The trainer is using this beach ball that has those two colors in it to not only desensitize Mr. Peppy Rio to those colors, but to show him that things bouncing off of him will not hurt him.

Lt. Newby, the Unit's supervisor and trainer, is working with Mr. Peppy Rio to pick up the correct lead going into a canter.

Lt. Newby and Mr. Peppy Rio working on equitation.

Volunteer Jeff Brown riding Leo and Lt. Newby working with Leo and Mr. Peppy Rio on negotiating platforms. The Lieutenant is training Mr. Peppy Rio to step onto and off wood platforms. They will eventually move up to a platform that teeter totters.

Road flares of a natural concern to horses because of the red color, odor, smoke and noise they emit. Volunteer Jeff Brown riding Leo and Lt. Newby riding Mr. Peppy Rio are desensitizing the horses to road flares.

Horses are naturally concerned about noises such as clattering tin cans particularly if it is a noise following them that they can't seem to get away from. Here, Volunteer Jeff Brown is dragging a black plastic bag full of clattering tin cans behind the horse. The horse has realized through training that he needs not be concerned about this noise.

During certain events in Key West, such as Fantasy Fest, police horses are exposed to flamboyant and scarey costumes. It is important to first know how the horses will react when they see them, and if necessary, desensitize the horses to them. Here you see PEPPY and LEO very curious and unafraid of the scarey mask. October 2008.

Lt. Newby gets LEO's reaction to a costume headress that the horse would likely encounter during certain festivities in Key West. LEO showed no concern for the constume. October 2008.

In certain events in Key West, such as Fantasy Fest, the horses will be exposed to colorful costumes and feathers. Here TEA and PEPPY are curious and totally unafraid of the witch's hat and feathers. October 2008.

Lt. Newby desensitizes TEA to scarey costume faces and feathers that the horse would likely encounter during certain festivities in Key West. October 2008.

After seeing that PEPPY was unconcerned about witches' hats and feathers during training, we thought we would dress him up a little bit. October 2008.

Horses can naturally be concerned about bags and banners that flap in the wind. Here we see TEA and PEPPY have no concern about the black plastic trash bags catching air and flapping around them. October 2008.

During police duty, horses may find it necessary to walk on uneven surfaces that might even move under their weight. For training purposes we constructed a teeter-totter as you see here. Volunteer Donna Halstead is pleased to see that TEA has no concern about walking over the obstacle. October 2008.

Volunteer Donna Halstead is pleased to see that TEA has no concern about walking onto a black tarp on the ground. It is quite common for horses to naturally avoid this as they fear that they will fall into a deep black hole. October 2008.

In the performance of their duties, police horses must often walk through and over trash. For training purposes we constructed an 8' X 8' square that is filled with different types of trash and plastic bottles. The plastic bottles crush under the horses wait and make noise. The horse quickly learns that walking through trash will not harm him. October 2008.

An obstacles used in training is to have the horse push through plastic barrels that are set up as shown here. A horse would naturally try to walk around them but in TEA's case, he understands and agrees to what his rider, Volunteer Donna Halstead, wants. October 2008.

Volunteer Donna Halstead sees that TEA is unconcerned about the soft pool noodles that scrape down his body as he passes through them. October 2008.

During training, Volunteer Donna Halstead navigates traffic cones, getting as close to each one as possible without knocking them over. This simulates navigating through obstacles and people. October 2008.

Volunteer Donna Halstead trains TEA on how to safely navigate steps, something that a police horse is likely to encounter during patrol. October 2008.

Classroom training.

Desensitization Training - Water

You might not know, but most horses are naturally shy of water. A dark pool of water to a horse is a deep dark hole that the horse will never return from. The blue tarp in this exercise resembles water to the horse. The rider patiently works with the horse to walk across the tarp.

Desensitization Training - Flying Streamers

Horses are naturally concerned about things that are high or moving. In this this exercise, the rider must work with the horse to get it to move through the black waiving streamers.

Desensitization Training - Clattering Noises and Bright Colors

Horses are naturally concerned about flashy colors and clattering noises, particularly if they are behind the horse. Here the horses learn that neither will harm them.

Desensitization Training - Large Colored Ball

As stated earlier, horses are naturally concerned about objects with bright colors, especially if they move. Here the horse learns that the brightly colored large ball will not hurt them. Once they overcome their initial concern, many horses then enjoy playing with ball.

Traffic Stops

Mounted Officers learn how to safely conduct traffic stops and approach suspicious vehicles.

Desensitization Training - Objects Touching Them

In this exercise the horses are desensitized to objects touching them.

Desensitization Training - Being Struck

The police horse must be resistive to someone striking it. Here the trainer begins by striking the horse lightly with a soft object on its chest. The trainer then gradually increases the force while the rider walks the horse forward.

Desensitization Training - Flares

The bright red light, smoke and smell that emits from flares can be of natural concern to a horse. In this exercise the horses learn to trust its rider to safely navigate them both through the flares.

Desensitization Training - Smoke

Smoke is of natural concern to a horse because of its odor and because it clouds their vision. Here the horse learns that the smoke will not harm them, and to develop trust in its rider.

Desensitization Training - Nighttime

All obstacles that are presented to the horse during the day are then again presented at night.

Desensitization Training - Fireworks

Imagine yourself in darkness when someone sets off fireworks that spin, hiss and pop. Would that frighten you? It is naturally frightening to a horse. Through this exercise, the horse learns not only that the spinning monster will not hurt them, but they develop trust in their rider.

Firearms Training

The Mounted Officer must always be prepared to use his/her firearm when the situation warrants. Here Officers learn how to safely and accurately fire their sidearms from on top of the horse, as well as behind the horse using the animal's body as cover.

Firearms Training

Arrest Techniques

Mounted Officers learn how to apprehend fleeing suspects, search suspects, apply handcuffs and escort persons all without dismounting from the horse.

Arrest Procedures

Handcuffing