Raven Hill Farms hosts Mounted Police clinic

FLORIDA — The East Coast Mounted Patrol Association is an organization that promotes professional training for law enforcement units and civic organizations involving horses.
Its mission is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the civilian community through the medium of horses and training.
On Saturday, Feb. 17, East Coast Mounted Patrol Association founding members Mary Elena Moran and Ric Sutton offered "A Mounted Police Experience" clinic, hosted by Deirdre Hamling and her Raven Hill Farms in the Village of Florida.
It was a unique training opportunity for local horses and riders as well as guests from out of town. The clinic focused on developing confidence for both horse and rider through sharing training techniques commonly used by mounted police organizations.
The two instructors emphasized formation riding, crowd control, basic search and rescue, desensitization, and obstacle training.
Instructor Moran of Goshen is member of the New York State Police Department's Mounted Unit and professional horse trainer whose "From Kill Pen to Cavalry" program transforms rescued horses into confident police horses and then donates them to mounted police units.
"I like to give people a plan for how they can desensitize their horses to various stimuli and empower them to have the same confidence to apply those methods at home," she said. "Whether facing a jump, a dressage judge, or riding into an unruly crowd to make an arrest, the partnership between horse and rider is paramount. Trust is the key to that relationship and the training we provided today focuses on developing that trust. It was an absolute pleasure to work with these folks."
Sutton of Chesapeake Virginia, a member of the Virginia Beach Police Department, has 33 years experience as a multi-disciplined instructor with an emphasis on mounted police operations.
He is also a Level 3 American Riding Instructors (ARIA) certified instructor.
"I want to provide civilians with an inside look into how mounted police training is conducted to create the brave, fearless, and trusting police horses that they see on the street," he said, "and to give people those same tools to develop that confidence in their own competition and trail horses."
Hamling, who has known and worked with Moran for several years, reported that she was very impressed with the clinic and the dynamic synergy of Moran and Sutton's expertise.
"We are planning several more clinics with this amazing team," she said, "including desensitization for the dressage rider and a two-day adult summer camp.
For dates and additional information visit Ravenhillfarms.com and Face Book.
- Roger Gavan