12/ AUGUST 2017 THE RIDER OMSSU - Ontario's New Horse Patrol Launches


By Karen Dallimore karen.dallimore@gmail.com 519-855-1127 http://horsebackwriter.net @Horsebackwriter


rider teams have now passed their first round of training to become part of the new Ontario Mounted Special Service Unit, a horse patrol service that is unique in Canada.


Twenty-two horse and


plates, founder Cindy Fuerth envisioned a volunteer team that would be available for hire for trail patrol, public relations and search and rescue services in Ontario. With instructors from the Kentucky Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP, Wellington County Large Animal Rescue and Wollarton Township Fire Department


Based on American tem- in attendance,


Fuerth organized a rigorous three-day training event that in- troduced riders and their horses to the duties they might be ex- pected to perform. “What Cindy did here is


Mounted Police unit provides partner-building opportunities with neighbourhoods across the city. People open up when they


said McCarthy, who set the group up to fail so they would learn. For example, all of the riders promised to keep in touch with their cell phones but no one asked for anyone else’s phone number before they began the search. For him, the Toronto


Toronto Mounted Police. Along with Training Constable Joel Houston, his job was to lead participants in a ‘search’ for a missing person. Riders gath- ered to ask questions such as what was she wearing and where was she last seen and to learn the typical patterns people might follow if they get lost. Their mission was to find her yellow hat hidden in the park- ing lot. It wasn’t as easy as it sounds. The training is on going,


remarkable,” said Sargeant Kris McCarthy,


trainer for the


see an officer on a horse, pro- viding stories and insight into communities that may not oth- erwise be shared. Fuerth sees the potential of OMSSU to pro- vide a similar service, acting as horseback ambassadors for events and organizations, pa- trolling parking lots at fairs, for example. Other sessions taught rid-


Riders and their horses received an intense weekend of training at REACH Clinton to become approved members of the volunteer Ontario Mounted Special Services Unit. The initial training covers the basic requirements for trail patrol and public relations duties, ensuring that both horses and riders are prepared for what they may encounter at fairs and events. Further training will focus on search and rescue. A total of 64 horses and riders participated, re- ceiving instruction from members of the Toronto Mounted Police, RCMP, OPP, and the Kentucky Mounted Police. (photo credit: Happy Hoof Photography)


requires a higher level of dedi- cation involving a five-day cer- tification in search and rescue next spring. Fuerth is asking for a commitment of a minimum of 40 hours of basic training per year from each rider. Mean-


accreditation has given life to the first stage of the OMSSU, with riders already providing trail patrol at conservation areas such as the Ganaraska Forest and Saugeen Bluffs. Riders are expected to have their horses and trailers ready to service, in good condition with their “feet trimmed and no flat tires,” said Fuerth. The horses need to be fit, with riders expected to spend four or more hours on the trails six or more times per year, keeping a log of each ride and noting who they meet and any concerns they encounter. The next stage of training


ers how to tackle obstacles they may encounter during patrol such as wooden bridges, smoke and sirens, with equitation and fire safety components as well. The initial training and


breed, four years old and over, with a suitable temperament to handle crowds and working closely alongside other horses. The OMSSU is a volunteer unit, and while Fuerth is work-


while the OMSSU will be send- ing a team of eight to compete at the Kentucky Mounted Po- lice Colloquium at the end of September. Horses can be of any


about hiring or joining the OMSSU contact Cindy Fuerth at cfuerth@omssu.com


©2017 K. Dallimore. All Rights Reserved.


ing to gather partnership and sponsorship, members are ex- pected to pay their own ex- penses. For more information


Heather and Gord Sturm were ‘civilian’ participants at the OMSSU training weekend at REACH Clinton in July. While the main focus was training the 22 members of the new Ontario Mounted Special Service Unit (OMSSU), 64 riders in total were exposed to obstacle work and search and rescue sce- narios. Gord, owner of Windsong Carriage and Ranch in Bognor, Ontario, sees a potential opportunity for members of the mounted unit to accompany funeral processions following their horse-drawn funeral coach. (Photo credit: Karen Dallimore)


Rebekkah Karpinski of Lynden on her 11-year-old Percheron x Hackney gelding ‘Theo’ was one of 64 riders to attend the Ontario Mounted Special Service Unit (OMSSU) training weekend at REACH in Clinton. Sargeant Kris McCarthy, trainer for the Toronto Mounted Police, guided groups of riders through simu- lated search and rescue missions that they may be expected to en- counter as part of the newly formed OMSSU. (Photo credit: Karen Dallimore)


Michele Seguin of North Bay (left) and Sarah Clifford of Graven- hurst were two of 22 horse and rider pairs to receive training and accreditation as part of the new Ontario Mounted Special Service Unit (OMSSU) at REACH in Clinton. The initial training pre- pared riders and their horses to perform trail patrol and public service duties while further intensive training next year will equip the riders with skills needed to assist with search and rescue. (Photo credit: Karen Dallimore)


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