For several years now, our Mounted Patrol Section has done an amazing job reaching out to inner-city children in a program we like to call Operation HAY - Horses and Youth. We posted several pictures on KCPD's Facebook page of the group that came out last Tuesday.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, children ages 7 to 18 who participate in the City's day camp programs through Kansas City Parks and Recreation come out to Mounted Patrol's stables in the Lake of the Woods area of Swope Park. The Mounted Patrol officers teach them all about horses and many aspects of horsemanship, such as how safely approach, care for, clean and outfit a horse. Every child also gets the chance to ride the horses.
Many of these children are from the urban core and have never before even been near a horse. Some are even scared of these gentle giants (KCPD horses must meet a certain height requirement - all are donated by area horse lovers), and the officers try to ease their fears. There is very little about policework discussed: it's true horsemanship training. Check out the pictures of the latest intrepid learners/riders!
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