Sheriff's Posse - should I join?

Seeing Spots · #1 11-15-2010, 09:28 PM

My farrier is on the Sheriff's Posse and wants me to join. Not sure about it though. Only thing they really do is ride in parades now. I think I would use Magic Ann who is my mare from Saddlebred Rescue. The only problem is I will have to learn to shot a gun! My son is going to teach me but I'm still not sure about the whole thing. Guess I will get more info next time my farrier is out.
I think it would be a great way to show off my saddlebred plus it would be fun to see the looks on my students faces when they saw I could carry a gun! I have a friend who wants to do it with me on her saddlebred too.

Samigator · #2 11-15-2010, 10:26 PM

it would be very cool! The only thing that would concern me is when they get called into action- I guess all of the sherriff's posse's around this area had to be on duty during the Republican National Convention here in the twin cities. I'd be afraid of my horse getting hurt by the nutso protesters and crowds out there when actually put to work. . .

Summer Skye · #3 11-16-2010, 08:38 AM

Do it! Do it! Do it! I have a friend in Southern Indiana who is on a posse and she loves it. They do a lot of trail riding together and have been called several times to help look for lost children (all alive and just lost). They also work with the Louisville Police on horseback several times a year and "do their training course". I've watched and it's a blast. Moving ball, walking through plastic barriers, artifical smoke. It's a ball to watch and not everyone gets this training. (side note: the men who came into the course swaggering and talking about how tough their horses were --- they had the most trouble as they tried to force their horses though the obstacle. Those that asked nicely, had no trouble. A saddlebred would shine. )

Also, the gun thing is not really important. To be a "sheriff", you have to have a gun permit. To have a gun permit, you have to take a test-- part of which is a shooting test. (very easy) I did it and have a "conceal carry license". The test is 20 questions (ha), you can take a one-day 8-hr. class to pass. The shooting part is hitting the side of a barn at 10 ft. (just kidding but it might as well be) They just want to be sure you don't shoot yourself or your friends. I doubt that they will ever, ever, want you to carry a gun.

Again, do it !! and keep us up on your adventures.

snowfool · #4 11-16-2010, 12:16 PM

Try and check their reputation as a real working unit beforehand. We have had several Sheriff's Posse's in this area, one of which I was invited to join years back. Not all S.P.'s are serious about their jobs and I fortunately found out beforehand that this was the case with the one I considered joining. Since then I have discovered S.P.'s are only as good as the members who are willing to give quality time and effort. Others are simply disconcerted efforts.

Seeing Spots · #5 11-16-2010, 01:58 PM

They have recently "cleaned house" which is why they are looking for some new members. We are a VERY small town so they really don't do much. Like I said they do some local parades and that's about it. Oh they do the beach for 4th of July too. Jerry says they need some people who can actually ride, have sane horses and have a clue in general. I guess my local trainer just joined so it would be fun probably. I like the experience for the horses.
Guess I really need to see if I can handle shooting a gun first!

Mona129 · #6 11-16-2010, 01:58 PM

If the group is legit, absolutely Go For It! My old Nightly was a S&R horse/posse for 5 years before I got him. They are fantastic at it, they do it in style, they can get impatient so sometimes the slow tedious work will frustrate them. As far as the gun thing? Oh do it, you might find you enjoy it, something new and VERY empowering! I have had many weapons instructors tell me women are better shooters because they are more precise and methodical as well as more willing to listen to and follow instruction. Guns can be fun, I found out I enjoy them. I currently have a 9mm, 30-06 bolt, .223 bolt, 30-30 lever, 12ga pump, 12 ga double barrel side by side and a 410 and I love each and every one of them.

oh...and a taser

now you are making me want to see if there's one around me with this new "trail horse" I just bought.

deerridge · #7 11-18-2010, 09:13 AM

Go for it. You find alot of fun in the new skills you learn. A good solid saddlebred has been doing sheriff and cavalry duty as long as there have been saddlebreds. I've ridden five gaited horses through firecrackers and fire extingishers and have two trained for mounted shooting. You can do it!

Sailor · #8 04-04-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seeing Spots

They have recently "cleaned house" which is why they are looking for some new members. We are a VERY small town so they really don't do much. Like I said they do some local parades and that's about it. Oh they do the beach for 4th of July too. Jerry says they need some people who can actually ride, have sane horses and have a clue in general. I guess my local trainer just joined so it would be fun probably. I like the experience for the horses.
Guess I really need to see if I can handle shooting a gun first!

So did you go for it??? I just had my evaluation ride (which did not go well at all) for my local posse. My SB Andy decided he would rather show them how he can park out and see how pretty he is than do anything practical, like go forward and canter. Oh, I now know he can back up reeeeally fast! Might come in handy, you never know.

I was surprised to learn you can use guns. Ours forbids it - we can only have mace.

shayna · #9 04-04-2011, 12:00 PM

ok no one make fun of me.... whats a sherrif's posse?

Sailor · #10 04-04-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shayna

ok no one make fun of me.... whats a sherrif's posse?

Well, for ours, it sounds like a civilian backup for the police. The duties include park patrol (we have 3 county parks, normally forbidden to horses), parades, flood/levee duty, talks at local schools, etc. They have been used to act as crowd control during visits by "celebrities". I went to a meeting where they talked about how much force to use in certain situations, what deadly force was with the horse.

The horses have to go through a sensory test, like gun fire (we don't shoot - someone else does), sirens, water, rocks making a loud noise through a tube, going up to strange objects and moving them, etc. A co-worker of mine's husband heads up my county's posse so I was getting the scoop from her.

ETA: It is a volunteer program. No pay. I heard that the police is checking into upgrading posse horses to be considered "officers" so they have the same protection, or at least some protection as regular police animals.