Patrol and Safety
Using horses for patrol is a very effective and efficient tool in keeping the parks safe for visitors.
- Visibility:
Having a ranger mounted on top of a horse16+ hands tall, a ranger can seem to be ten feet tall. Being this high, obviously increases a ranger's view. Whether we are watching a suspicious individual, or looking for lost children, the added height is a great advantage.
- Mobility:
Horses have proven very effective in negotiating woodlands such as the Wilderness in Franklin Park and the hills of the Arnold Arboretum. In comparison to four-wheel drive vehicles, horses can better maneuver between trees, rocks, and other obstacles. Horses are also environmentally friendly. Besides, whom would you rather get a chance to meet in Boston's parks, a horse or a vehicle?
The downtown parks, such as the Boston Common, Public Garden or Copley Square, see thousands of visitors daily. Being mounted astride a horse allows a ranger to be seen and move through crowds and congested traffic with relative ease.
Horses can go almost any place a person on foot can go.
- Public Relations:
Acting as good-will ambassadors to the city, a portion of a mounted ranger's job is public relations. A horses is a curious sight in the City of Boston and attracts people of all ages and backgrounds. If you see a mounted ranger in the park and want to meet their four-legged partner, just ask. Usually the mounted ranger will be very willing to tell you about his/her horse. However, there may be times when the ranger will ask you to come back later. Don't be offended. The ranger is probably affording the horse a well deserved break or may be dealing with an issue that requires his/her direct attention. As a courtesy, you should always ask the rider before you pet or touch the horse.
(pic of peoples petting the horses.)
- Crowd Control:
Both ranger and mount are trained in crowd control. Whether it be moving a small group of people off of a particular section of grass, escorting an ambulance through the dense crowd of a concert, or keeping pathways open during special events, the mounted ranger has proven to be very effective in managing large crowds.
©2008 The City of Boston