‘Juno’ comes to CPS with background in dressage
A new set of hoofs are hitting the pavement with the Calgary Police Service’s Mounted Unit.
Juno, an eight-year-old draft cross gelding, was welcomed to the team Monday in a Facebook post. It’s the third horse to be named under the unit’s new tradition in which horses are named after historical Canadian battles.
“Juno’s name was chosen as a tribute to our veterans who landed at Juno Beach during the Second World War and fought on D-Day, June 6, 1944,” read the post.
In June 2016, Vimy was the first horse given a name to honour Canadian veterans.
It was named after the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Juno’s name was chosen as a tribute to our veterans who landed at Juno Beach…
The second horse was named Ortona for the Battle of Ortona during the Second World War, where more than 1,300 Canadians were killed in December 1943.
Juno won’t immediately be pressed into service, but will continue training to become comfortable working in an urban environment.
“He is the first grey horse in our unit and he comes to us as a green broke gelding with some background in dressage,” read the post.
The unit comprises four officers who select, train and care for the horses.
The specialty team performs search and rescue, crowd control, patrols high-crime areas and is present at community events.
The police encourage residents to interact with Juno.
“As you begin to see PSH Juno, and any other members of our Mounted Unit, we encourage you to come up and say hi! Always make sure that you have the attention of the officer with the horse before approaching,” said their post.