Right in the heart of our city, at the Exhibition Grounds in the Horse Palace are 26 of our city’s finest officers…and they love to eat hay.
Our Toronto Mounted Police Unit welcomes the public to come to the stables and pet their horse officers to encourage healthy relationships between the public and our law enforcement.
So I can Just Show Up and Pet the Horses?
Absolutely! It’s best to call ahead as most could be out on-call, but there are usually a handful in the barn at all times, with an officer on duty.
Where Exactly Are The Horses Kept?
The stables are located on Exhibition Grounds in the Horse Palace. Approach the entrance on the north side of the building and buzz in. They will tour you around to each of the stalls and answer any questions. They even offer trading cards on each horse officer as collectibles.
What is The Number One Duty for The Toronto Mounted Police Unit?
Manipulating crowd control makes a very crucial impact when dealing with perpetrators, violent situations or aggressive protests. These large beasts and their ability to control a crowd becomes key in keeping the city safe.
A minimum of 8 horses ride together to perform their duties. If you see a smaller group riding through the city, they may be out for a more casual ride, keeping the horses healthy and happy.
Do Horses Get Hurt in the Line of Duty?
The most recent incident of a horse being injured on duty was in November 2024 when a stolen vehicle struck a horse. The horse was minimally injured in its chest, returned safely to the stable where a full medical evaluation was performed. Toronto Star obtained a video of the incident.
The occurrences in Toronto are rare and the well-being and safety of these horses are top priorities of the mounted police unit.
Are They Specially Bred for Police Work?
Surprisingly, no! The department has to work within the year’s budget, making it difficult to procure specially trained horses. The budget typically allows $5,000 per horse.
Working with farriers, veterinarians and other knowledgeable people, the mounted unit chooses a different mix of breeds, favouring the Clydesdales due to their size, temperament and trainability. Most horses arrive from farms, breeders and auctions.
What if a Horse Doesn’t Make the Cut?
Once a horse is purchased, the unit has 2 weeks to perform the appropriate medical evaluations to ensure that a horse can handle terrain on city streets. If they pass the medical, their training begins.
How is an Officer Paired with Their Horse?
An officer does not get to choose their horse. In fact, its’ rare that an officer works with the same horse for longer than 4 years. When pairing a team together, the department will match a seasoned rider with a new horse, or a seasoned horse with a newly trained mounted officer.
Does the Officer Need an Equestrian Background to Work Within the Mounted Unit?
No. Any officer can be assigned to the mounted unit and will undergo the needed training in order to perform their duties successfully on the streets. The officer has years of other police work before being trained for the mounted division.
How Do I Know if a Horse is in Training?
Because the history of the mounted unit goes back to the old cavalry days, some traditions still hold strong. So when a horse completes its training, he receives an honorary haircut that removes the tuft of hair on his forehead (between the eyes). So if you spot some tuft, he’s still learning the ropes.
Why Do We Need Mounted Officers in a City Anyway?
- One mounted officer on a horse is equivalent to 10 officers on the ground
- Mounted units are highly effective in managing crowds and dealing with unruly behaviour
- Offer better vantage points for the officer to monitor and control public safety
- Help with community engagement, fostering trust and positive interactions between the public and law enforcement
- Can handle various terrains, often entering areas where cars are inaccessible
- Well suited for handling missing persons due to positive engagement, visibility and accessibility in certain areas
- Can de-escalate tense situations, fostering calming effects in hostile environments
What Happens When a Horse is Retired?
There is actually an impressively long waitlist for retired police horses, since they are not easily spooked and are calm and reliable. Some are happily placed back to their original homes to live out the rest of their days in great care.
“One of the great advantages of doing police work on horseback is we sit high and tall and we can see things an officer on the ground wouldn’t be able to see,” -Officer Mark Da Silva
“He appeared to be disoriented and confused but with the aspect of the mount being there, he approached him and started petting him,” -Officer Jose Perez, on Finding an Elderly Missing Person
