Mar 11, 2004

Oh, how I love a horse in uniform!

Check out The Police Horse Diary at TheHorse online to read the daily record of two colts, Conan and Chapman, who are in training based on a new curriculum developed by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Sue McDonnell, PhD of the University of Penn's New Bolton Center. Natural Horsemanship Guru Pat Parrelli has also provided input on this program.

Here's some background:

"The NPHA's mission statement reads: "The National Police Horse Academy (NPHA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization bringing together groups with diverse backgrounds to work toward the common goal of breeding, raising, and training horses suitable for use in mounted law enforcement units."

The curriculum is designed for college equine programs using student handlers of varied horse experience with guidance from faculty, professional staff, and consultants. The curriculum is based on academically sound (research-based) standard behavior modification techniques as a progressive curriculum of training, beginning with lightly handled 4-month-old half-bred weanlings and ending with 2-year-olds which are "bombproof" on the ground and started under saddle, if ready."

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