One of the more popular sights at the State Fair of Texas this year isn't a ride or a game, it's a Dallas Police officer on horseback politely posing for photos with children.
For the Mounted Patrol unit, it's their annual time to shine. The 16-horse, 12-officer unit has been preparing for the opening of the fair for weeks, but things really ramp up in the days before opening day.
"We clean the barn, we paint, we basically get prepared and get the barn looking suitable for the public," said Sgt. Michael Hunter, who oversees the unit.
Senior Corporal Dale Baugh has been with the Mounted Patrol for six years, but this will be his first year working with his horse Titan. NBC 5 caught up with them as they exercised in a pen and practiced some basic crowd-control maneuvers.
Baugh said it's all about trust and making sure horses feel comfortable doing things they wouldn't ordinarily do, like push forward in a crowd and jumping over small obstacles. Those are important skills to have when there are thousands of fairgoers packed into the Midway.
"We're able to see over the crowds. So we can actually see disturbances as they're developing. To put the fire out before it gets started," Hunter said. "With our presence, in a crowd control event, it's a phenomenal tool. People move when a horse comes their way."
But during the fair, it's mostly about routine patrols and making sure the public is having a great time.
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"There are a lot of people that come up to you that want to pet your horse and take a lot of pictures of your horse," Baugh said.
The Mounted Patrol has been a fixture of the Dallas Police Department for 32 years. The unit has 12 dedicated officers and 16 horses---mostly large "draft" breeds. All of the horses are at least 16 hands tall (one hand in horse parlance means four inches) to give the officers a clear view of what's happening above the crowds.
The horses are all male geldings, with macho names like "Apollo," "Titan" and "Moose."
Horses are an effective tool in crowd-control situations. When the horses patrol neighborhoods not used to seeing the animals, people come up to ask questions and may be more willing to talk about a crime they witnessed or a situation that's impacting the community.
"They're an awesome community relations tool. People are approachable when it comes to an officer on horseback," Hunter said.
During the fair, the Mounted Patrol stables are open to the public. Officers are there to show off their horses and answer any questions about horsemanship that families may have. And of course--pose for photos.
"We're around people, we get to meet people from all over the world and it's a good environment where everybody is happy to see you," Baugh said. "It's fun to be a part of it. You get a lot of positive feedback being a police officer on horseback."
Officers say wherever they patrol on horseback, people come up and talk to them. As Baugh puts it: "There's just something about a horse that gets people"
In the days before the fair opens, the horses are spoiled. They're washed and groomed and their 28 stalls are washed, cleaned and painted if needed. Farrier’s check to make sure the horseshoes still fit properly; stable hands provide fresh hay to graze on and fresh sawdust to stand on.
"Our barn is visited by thousands of people," Hunter said. "We have the opportunity to go out and protect the fair, and also show everybody what we're all about."
The Mounted Patrol officers will do free demonstrations for the public at 3 and 5 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at the Ranch Hand Arena during the fair.
