There’s a lot of dirty work that goes into making NOPD’s Mounted Unit one of the most recognized icons of the department.

 

Dave Waguespack, a 30-year veteran of the NOPD, became a Mounted Unit officer in 1992 and took the reins as assistant mounted instructor just two years later. In 2006 he became Lead Mounted Instructor and took on the daily responsibilities, duties and tasks associated with the keeping 25 horses and 11 human officers healthy and ready to hit the streets.

 

Waguespack also serves as the unit’s talent scout, always keeping an eye out for new horses to bring into the fold. The horse’s temperament is the most important thing they look for when seeking out new four-legged additions to the unit.

 

“The females are more ornery,” offered Waguespack.

 

Waguespack is also handy to have around if a horse throws a shoe and needs an emergency repair. He says in order to be a Mounted Unit officer, there’s one thing you have to have: the ability and desire to take care of horses.

 

“It’s the hottest, coldest, stinkiest and dirtiest job in the NOPD,” says Waguespack. “And it’s 24/7, 365 days a year . The horses need to be taken care of every day – feeding, exercise, washing – all the things humans need to get through the day, plus shoeing and veterinarian visits for shots  and worming.”

 

That means  doing all of the dirty work : washing, feeding, brushing, cleaning stalls, repairing the tack – everything  a horse needs, every day of the week.

 

“The first time I walked two feet into the barn, I ran back out. I couldn’t stand the smell,” said Waguespack. “Now I don’t even  smell it. I walk into my house, my wife tells me I stink but I can’t smell it.”

 

He credits the division’s success to his team, which includes 27-year NOPD veteran  Dave Gaines and 18-year veteran ReGina Barr. Barr, who recently received her instructor certification, is the only female trainer on the staff.

 

“Being part of the Mounted Unit combines two of my loves – horses and police work,” she said. “I love working in the barn and dealing with the horses. It’s a passion. My father always said ‘If you find a job you love you won’t work a day in your life,’ and that’s how I feel.  I like the horses and the riders are fun guys to be around – there are some days I don’t want to leave.”

 

The staff is responsible for everything related to the horses including washing, brushing, exercising, training and feeding, as well as repairing saddles and tack. Tack includes everything from the stirrups and saddles to reins, bits, and harnesses.  Waguespack, Barr and Gaines are the ones responsible for getting the 25 police horses ready for their human partners. Currently there are 11 full-time Mounted Unit officers.

 

Barr says each horse has its own unique personality and reacts to the public in different ways.

 

“Josey – you can’t walk by him without saying hello – he likes the attention.  The young horses like Hero are like little kids. They have to entertain themselves  at all times, so they may just pick at the other horse to get a reaction, or they’ll chew on something hanging from the other horse’s saddle – whatever they can do to get attention.”

 

On weeknights, six officers on horseback patrol the French Quarter, with an additional two officers added on weekend nights. Its up to Gaines and Barr to exercise the herd and train the newcomers to get them used to the sights and sounds that come with patrolling events like Mardi Gras and Saturday nights in the French Quarter.

 

Weather is the only thing that keeps the horses from patrolling the streets. NOPD horses don’t go out if it’s raining, if the heat index on the street is over 100 degrees, or if the wind chill is 32 degrees or below. In those instances the horses get to stay home, but their riders have to patrol inside a vehicle for the night. The only exceptions are major special events like Mardi Gras, Sugar Bowl, Essence fest, etc., then the horses will be on patrol no matter what.

 

Gaines has been with the Mounted Unit for 17 years and he handles many of the training duties including working with the new foals Tebo Stardust and Detroit Lady. It’s the first time the NOPD stables have had baby horses since 2006. Gaines was there in March 2017 when Tebo Stardust arrived, and he implemented what’s known as imprint training on him from the moment he was born.

 

Imprinting involves a process of desensitizing the foal to human touch by touching his nose, ears, and head, as well as flexing the foal’s neck from side to side, picking up its feet and rubbing the horse’s body with a plastic bag. This desensitizes the foal to sounds and touch, which is key to being able to put halters and leads on them going forward.

 

“It’s great to see them progress and retain what they’ve learned,” Gaines said. “I can only work with them for short periods of time though, maybe 15-30 minutes at a time. They have short attention spans – they’re just like little kids.”

 

Gaines also works with adult horses that are brought into the unit, getting them used to the sights and sounds associated with being a NOPD police horse. He trains them in the stables’ arena and round pen areas, as well as in nearby City Park and the streets of the surrounding neighborhood.

 

“When we get the new turnout it will be great,” said Gaines, speaking of the planned fenced grassy area that will be nearby. “Then we can exercise several of them at once and let them run around and be horses. We do that now in the arena but it’s hard for them to separate working in the arena and being able to just run around in the arena. Having the turnout as a completely separate area for them will be a big help.”

 

Even though none of the barn staff team has an assigned mount, they each confess to having a favorite. For Waguespack, it’s Trouble, so named because she had to be bottle-fed and doted upon during the first few months of her life. Gaines has a soft spot for Josey, named for the Clint Eastwood character in The Outlaw Josey Wales movie , and Barr’s favorite is Allie, Detroit Lady's mom.

 

Ideally Waguespack would like realize NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison's vision of expanding the Mounted Unit with more horses and more police officers. With that kind of manpower – and horsepower – the Mounted Unit can patrol in additional areas and be used as a crime deterrent in neighborhoods that don’t usually have 1,600-pound police officers walking the streets. It’s hard to believe an officer who initially couldn’t stomach walking into the barn is now looking to add more horses – and smells – to the unit.

 

“I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it,” he said. “I don’t regret a day of it. I think it’s one of the better jobs on the police department.”