Overview

The Saratoga Springs mounted patrol is under the command og Lieutenant Michael Chowske, and is utilized by both the Traffic and Patrol Division. The mounted patrol is primarily assigned to patrol the streets in and around the Saratoga Race Track. Other duties include working at special events, parades, entertainment events, public celebrations and downtown patrol.

Assignment to the mounted patrol is voluntary and there is currently a list of applicants waiting to be trained. Applicants are expected to have at least three years of exceptional service and must successfully complete a seven-week training course.

 The mounted patrol mission is traffic control, crowd control, community relations and prevention of street crimes.

Sgt. Mike Chowske and the

Mounted Patrol's first horse, Zeus. 

Pictured is Sgt. Mike Chowske with the department's newest horse, Jupiter.

History

In July of 2000,with the help of the New York State Park Police and the loan of one of their horses, the department initiated the use of a mounted patrol in and around the narrow residential streets of the Saratoga Race Track. The department was trying to find a better way to supervise the traffic control officers, get through traffic to expedite departure of the track patrons and to prevent thefts from cars in the parking lots. At the end of the racing season a critique of the program proved it was a big success.

In September of 2001 the department took possession of its first horse. Louise Leppert of Hudson Falls NY donated a seventeen hand standard-bred gelding named “Of Course I Can” to the department. The horse had raced on the harness track and at the end of his racing career his owner had decided to give him to a police department. At the end of his police training he was renamed Zeus as is customary with police horses. He served the department for three years until his death in September 2003 as the result of West Nile virus.

 The department was determined to keep the mounted patrol program going and in November of 2003 Joanne Hamilton of Ballston Spa NY donated to the department an eight-year old standard-bred gelding named "Jo Jo Geronimo". At the end of his police training he was renamed Jupiter and is scheduled to start work in the spring of 2004.

Horses

The horses of the mounted patrol must be geldings at least 16 hands tall and at least three years old. Vices such as biting, kicking or cribbing would disqualify the horse. The horse must be sound of wind and limb, that is, they can’t have any injuries or conditions that would preclude it from performing its job. Once a horse is accepted it goes through training to teach it all the cues the mounted officer uses and exposes it to things it may encounter on the road. After basic training the horse will spend time in the city getting use to traffic and crowds. Upon completion of training the horse will be given a new name and start its career on the police department.

Officer Pat O'Leary sits atop King Tut during graduation at the first Mounted Officer School sponsored by the Saratoga Springs Police Department.  Officer O'Leary is the third officer to join the mounted unit after his graduation on December 18, 2008.  Lieutenant Mike Chowske assisted in the instruction at the seven week school.  Lt. Chowske is a NYS DCJS certified Police Mounted Instructor.

Photo courtesy of Rick Gargiulo

Mounted Officer Glen Barrett congratulating Officer O'Leary upon his graduation at the Mounted Academy.

Photo courtesy of Rick Gargiulo