May 2021 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN May 2021 Page 7 Gettysburg, PAAdds a Mounted Patrol of the first times we were on the horses for an actual detail was last year. We had a long din- ner party outside, with several blocks of food vendors and other vendors. We were tasked with walking up and down Baltimore Street to make sure everything was safe. Horses make the police look more approachable, very similar to a canine handler. There are very few people I know who are not drawn to a horse. Espe- cially today, it is important that the community is able to talk to and trust their police officers.” Seeking Nonprofit Status While they continue to train, these mounted officers are look- ing to gain nonprofit status. “Like every borough and township, we are trying to recover from Covid,” Pennese said. “We have no money to put in for special units like a mounted patrol or a bike unit. We are looking to purchase equipment and uniforms and possibly our own horses. We are lucky that [Horse Tours of Gettysburg] doesn’t charge us anything. They even had their truck painted with police colors and decals on it like the patch we had designed, and they let us use all of it.” Orth said they are working on organizing a search and rescue training next. In December 2020, the team mobilized the horses and men for a search and rescue of a child lost in the mountains in Franklin County, PA. The horses were loaded when they got a call that the boy had been found. While they did not get to try out their new skills, it was a moment to celebrate. Orth said horses are perfect for search and rescue. “Horses have a smaller footprint,” he said. “They can move around things where even a 4-wheeler or a side by side ATV or a 4-wheel drive can’t go, and they are pretty sure-footed in mountainous areas. Plus, you are up high, which gives you a better viewpoint.” Thanks to the generosity of one family and the willingness of the Gettysburg Police, this small town has gained an invaluable community asset. When asked why the pair wanted to donate so much, Rachel Stephens ex- plained. “Because it’s the right thing to do,” she said. “We just hap- pened to be able to do it, so why wouldn’t you use the resources you are blessed enough to have and give back to your communi- ty? It’s helping our brothers and sisters in arms.” “We have to keep training and keep training,” Orth said. “But without Rachel and Doug Stephens you and I would not even be talking. They not only donated their horses, but just like the officers, they volunteer to train with us, too. Without them, we would not have this.” (Continued from page 6) www. EquineColicReliefUSA.com • Email: zebecash2@hotmail.com