JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — A new class of volunteer recruits has been busy training for the summer season. Countless hours introducing equine and their mounts to all sorts of weird obstacles and challenges is the reason these horses are so dependable and the units are able to do their job representing Jackson Hole.
Creating a police horse is painstaking work. These horses need to be bombproof. They will encounter crowds, noises, and all sorts of stimuli that would make the average horse bolt in fear.
Police Lt. Russ Ruschill trains the all-volunteer Citizens Mounted Unit each spring. Since 1996, the mounted patrol has been providing much-needed support during major events in Jackson but, perhaps just as important, they are a popular attraction for Jackson Hole tourists—many of whom are thrilled to see, pet, and take a selfie with these equine officers.
