The San Francisco Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit has been Protecting and Serving the Golden City Since 1874, Making It The Second Longest-Running Mounted Unit In The Country

San Francisco, the sparkling “City by the Bay,” has long been a jewel among the Golden State’s most magnificent urban destinations. “The City,” as it’s known lovingly by locals, sits perched on the northern end of a peninsula wedged between the Pacific Ocean on the west and San Francisco Bay to the east; each linked by the grandiose Golden Gate Bridge. It boasts some of the country’s most iconic landmarks, from the Instagramable pastel-colored Painted Ladies (Victorian homes), to sinuous Lombard Street that snakes down eight tight switchbacks in 600 feet of road and attracts 1 million cars each year. Not to mention the charm of Pier 39 on the Embarcadero, Alcatraz Island, and the innumerable cultures, traditions, architectural masterpieces and unique eccentricities of its many neighborhoods. San Francisco continues to be a beacon and a destination known across the world.

Amid the city’s signature cable cars and roller-coaster hills lives a fast-paced modern metropolis with a population of 850,000. Life here can be frenetic, and like any imposing city, it takes a focused, deliberate and dedicated police force to keep this jewel of the Pacific and her residents safe and secure. It was for this purpose that in the Gold Rush era of 1849, the famed San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) was formed to protect and serve the great Golden City. In 1874, the department added its Mounted Patrol Unit and has paired select officers with sturdy mounts ever since — making it the second longest-running mounted unit in the country after New York City.

While times have changed and the role of horses in the everyday lives of San Franciscans has morphed considerably, the SFPD Mounted Patrol Unit’s mission and commitment to its residents has remained steadfast. The horses, housed at the Fred C. Egan Police Stables in Golden Gate Park, include a wellequipped barnful of seasoned equine officers that range in breed and age. The barn is staffed 24/7 with a dedicated civilian team of stable attendants, and horses are kept at the ready to perform their daily duties. “Seeing a horse on the streets of San Francisco today is a lot more striking than it was 150 years ago,” observes Katie Corrigan, a stable attendant who has been with the unit for nearly seven years. “The horses provide our officers with a highly visible presence and a great vantage point. They help with crime deterrence, search and rescue, and act as an important ambassador for law enforcement.” While the Mounted Patrol Unit is no longer used for crowd control, they do immerse themselves in high traffic, high-visibility areas. “We do routine patrols while being an extension of a beat patrol officer who is out there on foot every day,” explains Mounted Patrol Officer Robert “Bob” Byrne, a 30-year veteran of the SFPD, with seven years in the Mounted Patrol unit. “We’re out amongst San Franciscans every day engaging with the citizens and members of the community.” The public is drawn not just to the magnificent horses but also to the proximity of the officers. “We’re not in a car traveling 25 miles an hour down the street. We’re walking slowly, and people can easily come up and speak to us.” The horse-and-rider teams either begin their patrol right out of the barn, or they can trailer to wherever needed. “We do additional work to support programs within the community,” Byrne adds. “We have an internship program for young adults with disabilities through San Francisco Unified School District. These students come out once a week, and they learn all about horse care, barn care and the tasks we perform around the barn. We also offer field trips for school groups to try to keep the communication open between the younger generation and our officers.” While the officers and their mounts daily perform serious police work, they also act as goodwill ambassadors to residents and visitors. From participating in parades and honorary ceremonies to their community outreach, the officers use the draw and connectivity of the horse to bring them closer to those they serve.

The Making of an Equine Officer

Scouting and selecting and vetting the ideal horse to join the Mounted Patrol Unit is a lofty endeavor. “It takes the right combination of size, temperament and experience to be a police horse,” explains Corrigan. “We look for horses that are generally about the same size, with 15-2- to 16-2-hands high being ideal. We also prefer horses to have a little bit of life experience and to have proven themselves able to handle things with a grain of salt.” This may explain why the youngest horse in the barn is 14 years old and the oldest is 26. “We’ve looked at horses as young as 5, but we value the experience that the older horses bring,” emphasizes Corrigan. After a trial period where the horse is tested on obstacles and around noise and activity that will mimic their life as an officer, they’re either welcomed into the barn or they’re judged not an ideal fit for the program. About 99 percent don’t make the cut. “We like horses that are engaged and have a joy for what they do,” she says. “We try to turn everything into a game for them, and that’s because they can encounter anything from a bounce house full of screaming kids to any number of unnerving things. If we play around with them here and get them used to things, then they may see something unexpected and consider it to be play.” With mostly seasoned quarter horses and paint horses in the barn, Corrigan is confident that they have a strong and steady roster of horses to fill the officers’ needs.

The horses are outfitted with every necessary piece of equipment to allow them to comfortably perform their duties. Tack is custom fitted, with horses donning lightweight western saddles, bridles that reflect the preferences of the horse and officer, and official badges affixed to their breast collars. “We want to make sure our horses are feeling as comfortable as possible during the long hours that they’re on duty,” assures Corrigan. “They, of course, get days off, but comfort is imperative while they’re working. We have protective helmets for the horses and officers, as well as reflectors. They also wear bell boots and splint boots, and they each go out on patrol with a rope halter in case an additional lead is necessary or if they need to be tied up.” Mounted Patrol Unit trailers are stocked with emergency equine first aid kits as well, should they become necessary.

The San Francisco Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit horses are outfitted with every necessary piece of equipment to allow them to comfortably perform their duties. Tack is custom fitted, with horses donning lightweight western saddles, bridles that reflect the preferences of the horse and officer, and official badges affixed to their breast collars.

Serving from the Saddle

The officers that serve are just as special as the horses. When an officer graduates from the department Police Academy, they go through a probationary period where they can consider one of 80 specialty units that also include boats, motorcycles and dog patrols. When that period ends, officers can sign up for specialty assignments, with the Mounted Patrol Unit having the longest wait list. “It took 24 years before my name was called for the Mounted Patrol Unit,” says Officer Byrne of the protracted wait. “This is something we’re all proud of. We’re very proud to be San Francisco police officers and of the history of the unit. Many of us are native San Franciscans, so there’s a sense of pride there as well. We try and do the best job that we can: We put our uniform on, and we go out there on horses wanting to look, ride and be our best. All eyes are on us when we’re out there.” Growing up near Golden Gate Park, Byrne remembers the Mounted Patrol Unit as a kid. “I grew up playing sports near the barn, and I would always see the officers,” he says. “I thought it was just the coolest thing, and I always wanted to do it someday.” Having no horse experience but a dream, Byrne threw his hat in the ring as a young officer. Some 30 years later — after a 15-year stint in the department’s Canine Unit — he’s a vital member of the small but close-knit mounted patrol and is living his dream daily.

Caring for an Equine Officer

As ambassadors for the city and partners that deliver an invaluable service, the patrol unit’s horses require thorough care. “We want to make sure we work with our veterinarians to provide the best quality care and included in that is nutrition,” says Corrigan. Horses are fed hay three times a day via slow feeders, with one grain meal per day as well. And while they may be city dwellers, they have access to turnouts and spend most of their time outside in groups or individually. “Our care routine is very much customized to each horse,” Corrigan shares. “That includes their diet, supplementation, exercise level and medical needs. We work with our veterinarians to give them the best quality care that we can.” Excellent nutrition is a hallmark of the program, from the quality of the hay and feed, to the supplement regimen for each horse. “We make sure we’re supporting all of their needs, and we’ve been using Platinum Performance for years to help do that.”

The horses have a crucial job. “They’re not what you think of when you think of a typical performance horse that may be going to shows for a week of intense activity,” says Corrigan of the unique role the horses have. “Our horses are performance horses in the way that they’re out there every day on patrol, and that patrol might look very different from one day to the next. We want our horses feeling their best. Our stable attendants monitor how they’re eating, their energy level, their interactions, their water intake and everything about them. We’re able to quickly pick up on changes and adjust from a preventive standpoint. Our goal is to alleviate as much risk to them as possible.” A key part of that effort is the veterinary team that regularly evaluates the horses to ensure the team is staying ahead of their needs. “Our veterinarians, Dr. Natalie Zdimal of Alta Equine and Dr. Robert Steere of Artaurus Equine Clinic, have been longtime members of our team here, and they see the horses regularly for routine care that includes vaccinations, deworming, dental exams, chiropractic work, acupuncture and bloodwork. They’re also here for any concerns that may arise and can work with our farrier as well, who provides routine shoeing and any corrective shoeing that’s needed.” For necessary surgical procedures and advanced imaging, Dr. Russ Sakai and the team at Petaluma Equine step in to ensure that specialty care is delivered to the highest level. “We love our veterinarians, and the horses couldn’t perform their work if we didn’t have this team and their dedicated service to every horse in our barn,” says Corrigan with gratitude.

One certainty each officer faces is that the public will take a keen interest in the horses they ride. “One of the things we’re frequently asked is, ‘Is this work stressful for the horse?’” Byrne highlights. “We pay close attention to that and try to manage stress as much as possible. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes training that we do with our horses to make sure that they are comfortable, they trust their riders and that the riders feel fully capable of handling that horse in any situation. Again, we turn it all into a game for them.” Riding the streets of San Francisco, however, is very different than it was in 1874 when the patrol unit had vastly expanded duties. “That’s one of the reasons we’re so picky about which horses come to the unit,” he adds. “One of our most recent horses, Gus, came to us nearly two years ago. Gus, for instance, loves parades, he can’t get enough of them. He loves being downtown looking at all the activity. That’s when he perks up the most, and you can just tell how happy he is with everything unfolding in front of his eyes. He thrives in that environment.”

150 Years: A Legacy of Service

There are few establishments that live on for 150 years and fewer still that do so with the quality and commitment of the Mounted Patrol Unit. San Francisco itself is a modern beacon with a past that reads like an epic Jack London novel, rich with adventure, innovation and imagination. The Mounted Patrol Unit is written into that story with pages that speak to its unique place in the city’s past, present and, most certainly, future. Horse hooves clopping on concrete streets may seem anachronistic juxtaposed with San Francisco’s imposing modern cityscape and glistening backdrop, but the horse patrols also serve as a symbol of strength and calm, bringing San Franciscans closer to the officers who risk their lives to protect theirs. “These horses are beautiful, strong and they know their job,” Officer Byrne says fondly. As a native who deeply loves these streets, he’s immensely proud of the patrol unit, his fellow officers and the horses that allow them to perform their shared duty. Their beloved “City by the Bay” is undoubtedly more secure under the ever-watchful eye of these dedicated officers and their steadfast mounts.