Kyoto Mounted Police
I have a weak spot for mounted police, so please excuse me for indulging myself and posting these photos of a very handsome pair that I saw in Kyoto late last summer. Since there is no need in Japan for mounted police in live situations (riots or crowd control) they are used in purely ceremonial functions as part of the Imperial honor guards. Every time I see them my heart jumps a little!
Very classy! No Dudley Do-Right going on here!
In the American and Canadian West you’ll see cops on horses, once in a blue moon. Our trail system out here is mixed use so sometimes I run into volunteer patrols on horses too. But they’re definitely not an urban thing, except for parades. So a bit similar…
Yes indeed! I’d be happy to see mounted patrols more often… (^-^)
What beautiful horses! I love seeing mounted patrols too, but normally the horses here in my town are very ordinary working horses of Quarter Horse stock or mixed breeds. The Kyoto police horses look like retired show horses.
Japanese never do anything half right, they probably use only the best horses. This horse is probably part of the imperial honor guards…!
There is little to compare to the grandness of a man (or woman) in uniform on a horse, in my opinion.
The Detroit Mounted Police Division was disbanded for a few years but eventually revived on a smaller scale with the aid of private donations to support the horses. The mounted officers and horses are such charismatic ambassadors for the Department. (Little E was so proud of her t-shirt celebrating their Centenary in 1993. Wore it until it just wouldn’t fit anymore.)
The Detroit Mounted Police used to do a thrilling mass horsemanship demonstration (with a full-gallop charge at the end!!) every evening at the Michigan State Fair, but by the time the Mounted Police were revived, the State Fair (the oldest State Fair in the country) was in decline and then cancelled.
It is hard to imagine Detroit of all cities having a mounted police. I hate when they cancel good traditions for what is comparatively only temporary reasons…
I am glad the Detroit Mounted Police were revived. The Wayne County Sheriff Department also has mounted officers to patrol Hines Park, and at least one time I recall that they rode up out of the park to our neighborhood convenience store.
(Oddly enough, just a few minutes ago I watched a show about Jeonju, Korea and got to see some mounted Police uniformed like the police from the Joseon Era. Very colorful!)
Mounted police in historical uniforms? Wow! I know that there is at least one convenience store in Japan that has posts to allow you to tie up your horse, it was on a TV show and I think the owner said that they were still waiting for their first horse borne customer!
How did it also happen to be that the female officer is super cute and gorgeous???!!! >_< What a happy and lucky day for you and your mounted police love (and mine!)
Generally any human being who takes pride in him/herself and keeps in shape generally looks great I think! (^-^)