New York Police Department Mounted Unit in Times Square
A strange sight to see in New York amongst the skyscrapers and concrete is horses. The NYPD Mounted Unit has been patrolling the streets of New York City since 1858.
While the Mounted Unit is great for PR, they aren’t just on the street for looks. The unit’s mission is counterterrorism, crowd control, traffic control, prevention of street crime and community relations. These 10-foot cops have the unique advantage of their height to help them see farther.
The Mounted Unit has 55 horses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. The training of the horses begins once they’re fully grown to make sure they can endure the chaotic streets of New York. The horses that are selected go through about 2 weeks of training while the officers train for about 6 months.
Have you ever seen members of the NYPD Mounted Unit?
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I would love to see Mount Unit in my city too. It gives a different touch to it
I have never been to NYC, but have always seen these mounted cops in tv shows etc. i guess its logical as the streets are narrow and always congested in such a big city. they have them in London too i think.
We saw the whole “team” down at Central Park on our first day in New York City and it was awesome. I’ve been riding horses since I was 5 so you’re right it was an impressive sight, the horses are gorgeous!
How cool! Wish I’d known this when I visited I could have kept an eye out for them.
ohh, interesting information. 🙂 Nice photos as well.