The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-30
'H0RSESREGEIYE
DAILY TRAINING
IN STATE POLICE
School at Haywood Junction
Gives Police Mounts
Many Rigid Tests,

rho horse has long been re.
ssrded as mans most faithful sci.
want, but TO the trooper of the West
Virginia state Police he lie more
than servant or friend He is as
much a part Of the policeman as
limbs are to the urban officer and
rs such is regarded by the officers
and men Of the outfit. That Is why
every trooper IN the department
Sreedily gulps every line OF newA
from Company AS training camp
at Haywood Junction. where mounts
for all the companies are being
trained.
This farm OF sIghty.segen acres
OF rolling land Is devoted entirely
TO the purpose Of turning out more
efficient officers and mountH, with
special attention being paid TO the
equine police who are expected 10
play a very important role In the
future policing Of the Little Noun
tain State.
Just as when Uncle Sam levied
impartially on the manhood OF the
, nation for soldiers during the
World<War. there were many awk.
ward doughboys who hardly knew
the differences between the butt
and barrel OF rifle. so there are
many dobbins who don't know the
slightest thing about whut a police
mount should do. Unlike the will.
ing doughboys, who so hastily alb.
Sorbed the rules OF warfare at the
training camps. these horses can't
see the need OF the manouvers tina.
Capt. Walter W. White. First Ser
geant Elvin Moran. and their men
put them through daily. Suddenly
reprieved from the serfdom Of ha:-
. ness and loosed into the great green
fields, oceans Of grass that they
haven't had opportunity 10 prance
and roll in since they were colts,
they object to work. This reckless
spirit presents difficulties. hut also
has another effect-you haven.
seen a West Virginia State Police
horse who hasn't a sparkle in his
eye.
But II takes moro than spirit to
make a police horse. It's up to his
trainers to win his confidence. Ever
hear OF horse confidence? You'll
find 1t at Haywood Junction. There
are horses there that would go any
limits for their man" and be the
person husky brute or dainty belle
they'd better not interfere with the
mounted policeman. "O.Boy". Ser.
geant Moran's mount. Is one OF this
type. He's a temperamental beast.
He has every confidence in the
world in his man" but only the
best hOrseman of the camp, outside
Of Sergeant Moran, can stay a'trid9
OF the scar.faced sleek black colt.
.Yo'Boy" has all the attributes o.
= collie dog. For a pleasant mol
|iel OF food-such as an applG-hs
viii gallon after his man" for
hours. He'll dodge around trees.
run circles around cars. houses O.:
obstacles, and oven dash up to the
door OF headquarters-although he
can't be coaXed into the abode L;
men, That's "O'Boy" In play time.
He'll jump fences, rush into solid
phalanx OF horses, jostlc mere men
hitler and yon, back 4utO crowd
and wig wag n path through the
densest mob, or even stand still
for long stretches OF time in silence.
He can't use gun or baton, but
he has four feet aud an amazingly
huge mouth, and with these he
works like one possessed IL h,
thinks the need merits it-yet
"O'Boy" isn't vicious beast, anE
even at the height OF the battle"
land he has been In many sham
attalrs-hell stop at the word OF
command.
what 'o'Boy' does isn't" to be
the exception but the rule" eN.
planned Captain White, who boasts
a mount that Is second TO none in
the state for police duty. His
Prince" has been In many tIgh:
places, zealously guards his rider.
and shows every good point that n
police mount should boast--al.
though he isn't as playful AS his
frivolous stable mate, "o'Boy'
whom he seems to regard as mere
"non.com." He seeks to emulate
the magnificent bay, king" wh1
is Col, jackson Arnold's own
mount, and who "looks down" on
all the other horses at the camp
with as arrogant hauteur as his
beautifully arched neck ran mus.
ter.
Every horse has TO win his
spurs II he wants to stay in the dc.
partment," continued Captain
White. 1--WE don't try TO break
them, but teach them. Every horse
doesn't like timber and some have
great difficulty understanding tina;
they must become hurdlers, Blu.
every one will. Once he is assignee
to do duty in the hills and hollows
Of the state. he must have knowl.
edge Of all the rudiments of police
work. He must have endurance to
stand long journeys. He must be
unnfraid OF fire or water. He must
be willing aye anxious. TO lean
fences or imPromptu barricades
wherever they are encountered. lie
must be able to hold his head hign
and be credit to the department
on dress parade, and yet be able
TO stand any punishment under
fire. and he a flesh and hIonI oItv