Toronto Mounted Training Ontario Officers

Toronto’s Mounted Unit helped get Ottawa’s officers back in the saddle again.

On April 11, five Ottawa Police Service officers who graduated from Toronto’s 15-week Basic Equitation Course will be among the first officers in their new Mounted Patrol Unit this year.

Constable Eric Mougeot, a 23-year Ottawa veteran, has been riding horses for the last 15 years.

“The training staff in Toronto is excellent and we received the best possible preparation for us to effectively do our jobs,” said Mougeot, noting that they also greatly benefited from a month of training with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Ottawa Police Service last had a Mounted Unit in 1993. The new unit will have similar responsibilities to Toronto, including specialized operations, crowd control and community engagement.

Established in 1886, the Toronto Police Service Mounted Unit is one of the oldest in North America and many Canadian police organizations turn to the country’s largest municipal service to train officers who patrol on horseback.

“Through our reputation and good standing in the mounted unit community, we are looked upon as the standard bearer,” said Training Sergeant Kristopher McCarthy. “Services often reach out to us for assistance with training programs and we are always willing to help.”

On April 11, seven Mounted Unit officers – two from Hamilton Police Service and five from Ottawa Police Service – graduated at the Horse Palace where they had an opportunity to show off their skills riding in unison in a musical ride as well as demonstrating crowd management techniques.

“A lot of times when we get officers here, they have different riding skills levels,” McCarthy said. “The officers from Ottawa had ridden before while other Services that come here have very little to none. The course is designed to bring you to a level of about three to five-years experience whether or not you are new to riding or you have been riding before. It gives you the framework you need to have that proper riding seat so you have all the aids to move your horse efficiently.”

Hamilton Police Service Chief Frank Bergen, who served 36 years with TPS, was on hand to congratulate the Hamilton officers.

The Service has five horses.

“It is amazing to be reconnected with Toronto Police,” he said. “We have two members graduating and we are proud of them and what they have been able to accomplish through the first-class training provided by Toronto Police Mounted Unit.”