Orange County’s Regional Mounted Enforcement Unit has been gearing up this week for a different kind of assignment: Riding in the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade.
The 27 horses and officers from the Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Newport Beach and Buena Park police departments, as well as the OC Sheriff’s Department will be riding down Colorado Boulevard on Monday for the first time as a collective.
These horses are specially trained to do well in loud and crowded spaces – like the famed parade’s route that typically draws massive, cheering crowds.
The unit meets once a month, training the horses to stay calm in situations that would typically spook the animals. Each training session is hosted by a different department from the unit, arranging for the horses to be exposed to fireworks, blank handgun rounds and police sirens, as well as lights, smoke machines and bubble machines for further sensory training.
“We use them in crowded beaches like Huntington Beach during the US Open (of Surfing) or at our Anaheim Stadium during important baseball games or concerts as well,” Sgt. Jeff Callahan said. “Our horses are prepared for all sorts of different activities, including fireworks, gunshots, screaming kids, heavy traffic areas. And all of that collectively is what gets our horses prepared for this.”
The officers are especially excited to be among the 18 equestrian groups riding in the 135th Rose Parade, Callahan said.
“Especially since it is the first year doing it as all Orange County agencies, there is a lot of hype in that regard,” he said. “We train together, we deploy together on various things, so to be together on this big of a stage and coordinate is pretty amazing for us. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and we’re just really thrilled to be able to have this experience.”
Except for the unit from Huntington Beach, all of the horses are personally owned by the officers that ride them, Callahan…
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