Stearns County Sheriff's Mounted Reserve Unit
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Mounted Reserve Unit was organized by volunteers in 1992 and incorporated in 1993 primarily to assist the Sheriff’s Office with search and rescue situations. There are currently 19 riding members and 8 ground support members. Each of these members have met the requirements and accepted the responsibility of volunteering their time and efforts to organize and further develop the unit through training and certification of riders and their mounts.
Members are responsible for supplying their own horses and transportation for each function. Any horse used at unit functions must have a current negative coggins test and up to date immunizations filed with SCSMR. Before a horse may be used in public it must pass a certification test set up by the unit. This test is an obstacle course designed to test the manageability and temperament of the mount and challenge the skill and ability of the rider. Passing this test is required before becoming a riding member. The unit holds three certifications per year as each horse and rider team must recertify every three years. In 2009 we certified 22 horse and rider teams. All members are also required to be CPR certified.
Elected officers in the unit include Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal, Secretary, Treasurer and Quartermaster. The Mounted Reserve also includes a liaison officer from the Sheriff’s Office. Meetings are held once a month with training included at each meeting. Training is frequently on horseback but may also include seminars on horse safety, horse health, first aid, CPR, search and rescue protocols, etc. In 2009 the unit CPR certified 23 members, worked with horsemanship and transitions, desensitized horses, discussed trailer safety rules, provided self defense training, firearm safety and awareness and worked horses around obstacles.
Mock searches are used to drill the unit in formation riding and hone our skills in radio communications, mapping, documentation, evidence locating, first aid, and people skills. In the past we have participated in mock searches with fire departments, the Civil Air Patrol, the National Guard, canine search teams, water patrol, and local Boy Scouts. In 2009 we held a search practice at the Pioneer Grounds north of Albany and a mock search with St. Martin Fire and Rescue and a dog team.
Members have the opportunity to attend training and competition in Wadena during the spring and Hennepin County Metro Park Services during the fall to observe and learn skills from other units around the Upper Midwest. In 2009 the unit was excited about having an exclusive SCSMR two day clinic with the world class clinician and renowned trainer Richard Shrake.
Stearns County Mounted Reserve has had an action filled history. They’ve trained in Camp Ripley, put on 9 successful Wagon Trains, been on horseback near landing helicopters, ridden security at a music festival, assisted with handicapped riding, and parked over 10,000 Boy Scouts for the Boy Scout Jamboree at Camp Ripley. The unit escorted the Humane Society during their annual walk around St. Cloud, helped with the American Quarter Horse Association ride at Richmond, trained with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, manned a booth at “Horse Fest” at the St. Cloud Civic Center, parked cars for the Wheels, Wings and Water Festival at the Heritage Center in St. Cloud, and put on training sessions for local 4-H groups. The Mounted Reserve also tries to participate in parades each year. In 2009 the SCSMR participated in the St. Joseph, Richmond, Albany and St. Cloud Holiday parades. 2009 also found the unit participating in an “Extreme Cowboy Competition” for the second year and parking cars for a local church rodeo fundraiser and the Garrison Keillor show in Avon.
The training and dedication that goes into producing a suitable Mounted Patrol horse takes a special commitment and a willingness to prioritize the needs of others. This is not a saddle club, but a group of professional, trained horse people volunteering many hours, days and weeks out of the year to provide a service to the County under the auspices of the Stearns County Sheriff's Office. In 2009 during official training and meetings the unit logged 1188.5 volunteer hours. They do this willingly and with pride.
There are three major reasons volunteers join this unit:
Commitment to use their skills and animals to benefit the people of the county.
To provide a well-trained unit available for immediate emergency service.
Commitment to promoting good, safe horsemanship.
The future goals of the unit are to expand their services available to the Sheriff's Office and the county by:
Continuing to perfect search and rescue techniques.
Being a public relations tool and role model for youth in the county.
Parking/perimeter/crowd control and patrol.
These short and long term goals are attainable through the training and dedication of a cohesive unit of willing volunteers from our county.