Walkers make 'perfect' police horses

Metro mounted police officer Mark Stockdale plays second fiddle to his horse, Storm, when Celebration visitors, such as Minerva Diaz, want to meet a Tennessee walking horse up close. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Standing calmly near the exhibitors' entrance on the north end are two more approachable fellows, Henry and Storm. Not only can you walk up and pet the big chestnut geldings, they'd be disappointed if you didn't -- and so would their riders.

"The PR is wonderful," said Storm's rider, Metro Police Officer Mark Stockdale.

He, along with Henry's rider, David Mizrany, are two of the six full-time mounted police officers from Nashville. There are some auxiliary riders who help out during major events, such as the Celebration. Mounted patrols from other areas, including Rutherford County, also pitch in.

"We do crowd control, help people, all sorts of things," said Stockdale.

The team works everything from Titans games to breaking up fights in downtown Nashville at 4 a.m.

"We've been in the middle of some rough crowds, and Storm's never stepped on anyone," he said.

The horses all have several things in common. They are geldings ("No distractions," said Stockdale) and they were all donated.

Oh, and of course, they are all Tennessee walking horses.

"Most of them were donated by the people who come here, to the Celebration," said Stockdale. "Storm was given by Mr. and Mrs. Ben Downing from Ohio."

The stabling at Ellington Agriculture Center in Nashville is also donated.

"We grow our own hay, even," said Stockdale. "The only thing we pay for is some sweet feed, the farrier and the vet bills."

Using Tennessee walkers as police horses in downtown Nashville, or anywhere in the state, is far more than a publicity stunt to promote the homegrown breed, he said.

"They are the perfect police horses," said Stockdale. "Their disposition toward people, their temperament, is wonderful. Because they're gaited, it's more comfortable when you're having to spend hours in the saddle, and they don't often stumble."

Another aspect that makes them ideal for the job, he added, is that their easy gait makes them ideal for training up new riders, and he should know.

"I never really rode horses before I joined the police force," Stockdale said. "I'd ridden those riding stable horses, the ones you just sit on and they go."

Once he decided he wanted to be part of the mounted force, Stockdale, as did all other candidates, had to complete 160 hours of riding before he would even be considered, and he had to do it on his own time, on his own dime.

"A lot of people want to ride and they don't realize how hard it is," he said. "We take care of our horses."

The calm nature of the breed lets them shine in uncertain circumstances.

"Ambulances will go off, sirens and all, and they'll just stand there," said Stockdale.

The officers build a relationship with their horses, as with any partner.

"He would probably go into a fire for me, he trusts me that much," said Mizrany of his gelding, Henry. "He wants to eat whatever I'm eating. He'll even eat sushi!"

Henry is still looking at another seven or eight years of duty before he retires at 19.

"When I retire, I'm taking him with me to Texas," said Mizrany, who uses the sweet-tempered horse to work with autistic children when he isn't on patrol duty. "He'll get to be pretty yard art."

Storm is only 7 -- young for a police horse to hit the streets.

"He was a trail horse first, and he took to it real fast," said Stockdale. The gelding finished his training in an unusually short amount of time -- about 6 months -- and has been a poster child or Tennessee walking horse mounted patrols ever since.

Literally, a poster child.

"We were on the Celebration tickets last year," said Stockdale. "I was on Storm and saluting the flag during the singing of the national anthem. This year, he and I were on the recruiting poster (for the police force)."

He said more and more police departments are using Tennessee walking horses these days, including New York City.

"It's the all-around perfect horse," he said.

There is another positive aspect about riding Storm, he added, besides the gentle nature and easy ride. The horses draw attention and submit graciously to being petted, flattered and generally loved on by the adoring public, giving their riders the chance to praise their virtues to all who listen.

Stockdale shook his head and laughed as another set of "groupies" ventured forward with pats and questions.

"No one ever asked to pet my motorcycle," he said.