Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-08-21
TRAINING POLICE HORSES
DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING ANIMALS
FOR NEW YoRK'S FORCE.

Most OF the Horses Come From Michigan
-Weeding Out the Old Stock-The OF
fcial Life of Patrolman's Horse 1,
Short-The Training School Method
A lot of eleven new horses for the
use Of the mounted police has recently
been accepted by the Department
under the system proposed by ex- Com.
missioner Frederick d. Grant. The
plan has so far proved success. The
new horses are pronounced the finest
and the best trained on the force. It was
Commissioner Grants ambition to
have the mounted police in New York
City the best in the world, and for this
end he considers that good horses are as
essential as good men. While this
involves larger expense in the pur.
chase Of each animal, yet the ex-Com-
missioner believed that it will be q saw
ing ultimately.
The average life of q horse in the
Police Department is only five years.
After that he becomes foundered or
disabled in some other way and has to
besold. The ex- Commissioner hoped by
means of careful selection and train
ing to increase horses service to six
or six and half years.
Under ex-Commissioner Grants plan
training school for horses and men has
been established in the Thirty
Precinct, where large stable adjoins
the station house. As fast as horses
are selected, they are purchased pro-
visionally and sent to the school. If
they prove acceptable after two weeks
or more Of training, they are bought.
If not they are returned. Here also
the men who are appointed to the
mounted force will be sent for instruc-
ton.
1t is very difficult to find horses
trained for the saddle which are of the
proper size, weight and color for the
Department. There is no market for
them anywhere else, aud consequently
the police are obliged to train their
own horses. Horses for the patrol
wagons and the ambulances, all ready
for service, are much easier to buy.
The same scheme as exists in the
United States Army is followed out in
the purchase of the horses. They
must all conform to a set of rigid
specifications. The specifications for
police horse are mixture of those
required in the United States Army
for cavalry horse and the leaders of
al artillery wagon, because as rule,
policemen are heavier than cavalry
men.
They must be geldings of uniform
and bay color, in good condition, from
15t to sixteen hands high, weight not
less than 1000 nor more than 1900
pounds, from four to eight years old,
eyes large and prominent, head and
ears small, forehead broad, vision per-
feet. They must train to be gentle
under the saddle, free from vicious
habits, with free and prompt action at
the walk, trot and gallon, before thu
Department will accept them. Such
horse is worth about 5000.
The training school is in charge of
Sergeant Coffey. When horse is sent
to the precinct he first makes thorough
inspection of the animal to see if it
comes up to requirements. IT the ami
nal proves satisfactory in these TO-
spects preparations are begun to break
him to the saddle. This work is
largely performed by Patrolman Fraw-
ley, who has been specially detailed
for this purpose. The horse is put
through systematic course of exer-
else in the stable, and is also taken out
and permitted to sniff at cable cars and
stand under the elevated tracks while
tho trains are whizzing overhead. In
this way he is accustomed to the noises
incidental to the life of great city.
He is also taught to march in line, SO
that on parade days he will not be-
come fractious and break up platoon
by baking. In about two weeks he is
Judged competent for duty. Some
horses take longer. Most of the horses
come originally from Michigan.