Pat Irby, a volunteer for the Lee County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol, guides her horse over a mattress that was placed on the ground during a practice session to allow the horse to become more at ease with obstacles that may be obstructing its path while on duty. The training took place at the Lee County Civic Center in Fort Meyers recently and about 40 riders spent the evening learning maneuvers and how to handle their horses through possible scenarios that may occur while they are on patrol. As the sun slips behind the trees, the riders line up before an old mattress laying on the sand. The riders know it's harmless, but the horses have a different reaction as they plunk their hooves on the springs. Some shy away entirely, others step onto it gingerly leaping off at the odd sensation.
Some old pros approach it with gusto.
In the days of fast cars and high-tech radios, some may think the friendly officer on horseback is a thing of the past. But in Lee County, the sheriff's mounted patrol unit thrives as the largest volunteer unit in the state, Shevitski said. At a recent national competition in Louisiana, Shevitski, and riders Vicki Ritter and Mike Irby took several top honors against mounted police riders from all over the country. About 40 people participate in the mounted unit, both volunteers and law enforcement officers. Shevitski was instrumental in starting the unit seven years ago when he began to feel crime at concerts and festivals was getting out of control.