Portland Police Bureau – Mounted Patrol Unit

WE so much appreciate the Mounted Patrol We enjoy seeing them after the Timbers games in NW Portland and also patrolling the South Park Blocks. The officers are also so friendly and let people come up and pet the horses. You can tell by the look on the faces of the people that this is a magical moment for them and helps everyone. Our favorite moment this year was when they marched in the April SE 82^nd ave Parade of Roses. The officers and the horses were handsomely groomed and they had been traveling for hours to get the parade as that was the time of year when the horses were stabled out in Aurora and had to be driven miles to downtown.
They were the highlight of the parade especially since many people thought that with the budget cuts that they would not be able to come. They made many many friends that day. AFter the parade, they then came by to meet and greet some of their fans at Cartlandia, the food cart pod on SE 82^nd. TThe horses and the officers ey met young children, families and a few older men who day was brightened by seeing them and getting to pet them. The horses have an inspiring and calming effect on people and they bring people together in conversations, in appreciation for the horses and the horsemanship of the officers and the presence that we all feel from a mounted policeman being there to help us. People had said that the Mounted Patrol would never come out to SE 82^nd, but they DID! They have have been in the parade for years and also have patrolled the Springwater Corridor Bike Trail recently to help keep it family friendly and safe. We very much appreciate the positive impact that the Mounted Patrol and their officers have on the City. Thank you

MR. ED – A horse is a horse, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mr. Ed. Mr. Ed would love working with the Portland Mounted Patrol Unit. Probably eating sustainable, local Willamette Valkey hay, farm fresh grain and organic apples. Stable with a river view! Hoofing leisurely along through the Pearl District on patrol and chatting with people in Fields, Tanner and Jamison parks. Of course, frequent coffee breaks at Starbucks on LoveJoy. «Hey Wilbur, it’s espresso time again,» snorts Mr. Ed.
Take a river walk (NW Pearl, 9^th & Naito) and see if Mr Ed is strutting around his horse palace. Seriously, I love seeing and chatting with our Police on horseback and you can often see the horses they ride in the corral at the riverfront!

I had no idea the Mounted Patrol Unit (MPU) keeps their horses stabled in NW PDX! The outside portion is just north of the Waterfront Pearl condos and lets you get right up to the fence to see the horses up close! If you’re running along the west-​side waterfront pedestrian path, you’ll encounter it at the end of the Willamette River Greenway Trail.
Although it’s tempting to feed the horses, DON’T DO IT! It’s very much not allowed, and for anyone familiar with the area you know not to mess with the PPD!
As Anna B. mentioned, it’s disappointing that their funding seems to be in perpetual jeopardy, but at least for the time being you’ll still see them patrolling the streets of downtown.

I toured their facilities, and loved it. The tour was about an hour, conducted by one of the trainers, and was fascinating in its depth, insights and information. The physical tour of the facility was complete — we saw the training areas, the horses (and some of their officer riders), the tack, the exercise areas. But mostly it was the insights into the life of the horses and officers, the training and issues that added such depth and fun to the tour. Excellent tour! At this time of year, the tours are only on Thursdays at 11. Cute little gift shop, too.

I must admit, I am a teensy bit scared of horses. They are very powerful creatures, and in general, anything that can kick me in the face is pretty scary. HOWEVER, I have had the pleasure of encountering the wonderful Portland Police Ponies numerous times, and they sure are awesome. That clippety-​cloppety noise is great, amirite?
The officers on horseback have a totally different vantage point than an officer on foot or in a car, and can also get into areas that vehicles cannot. The MPU makes about 150 arrests a month, and they can also respond to calls, issue citations, and are probably most effective for crowd control. If there is a horse in my way, I’m certainly not going to run up to it! I’m staying way the hell away from it.
The ponies themselves are eight to twelve years old, and go through a multi-​part evaluation process once they are selected to essentially «try out» for the Mounties. After physical examinations, they go to the Portland Police Bureau’s horse barn, where they are evaluated for at least 60 days before starting hittin’ the streets. The officers go through six weeks of riding training of their own. Currently, there are 6 officers and one sergeant on the MPU.
I think it’s pretty rad that MPU still exists, though they may not for long. Every time there are PPD budget discussions, the Mounted Patrol Unit is usually on the chopping block. Enjoy our friendly yet hard-​working equine officers while we can, I suppose. Next time you’re at a parade, a festival, or wandering around Old Town and note an absence of shenanigans, thank your local Pony Police for keeping the peace.