PATRONS ENJOY EQUESTRIANISM

Lake Metroparks’ Horsefest draws crowd from far and wide

It’s one thing to be into horses.

It’s an entirely different thing to work with one in a public safety capacity.

A group of law enforcement officers from as far away as Canada helped illustrate that fact May 19 at the Lake Metroparks’ Horsefest event at Farmpark in Kirtland, which runs through 5 p.m. May 20.

Among the many demonstrations and attractions the event offers, a contingent of mounted law enforcement officers put themselves and their horses through the paces for the crowd to help illustrate the intricacies of what it takes to be a mounted police officer.

During one 20-minute exhibit May 19, a group of mounted officers from the Lake Metroparks, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Governor General’s Horse Guards from Canada helped show Northeast Ohio what policehorse work is all about.

During the presentation, mounted officers showed spectators everything from what they ask their horses to do, that they’re not used to, including crowd control, moving through, over and

Among the many demonstrations and attractions the event offers, a contingent of mounted law enforcement officers put themselves and their horses through the paces for the crowd..

around various obstacles and what it takes to get it done, in terms of training, earning horses’ trust and keeping them certified to work alongside their military and law-enforcement partners.

When asked about what makes a good police horse, Madison Township Police chief Matthew Byers, whose part-time job is with the Lake Metroparks’ mounted unit, said it’s all about time and training.

“A lot of times people ask whether there’s any type of horse that is better than another for this kind of work,” he said. “There’s not. You’re looking for a disposition, not a breed, not a particular type of horse.”

Byers added that the horses involved in law enforcement and their riders are constantly training, which helps them not only get to know the jobs their faced with doing, but each other, as well.

Police and military horses were far from the only participants the Horsefest at Lake Metroparks’, however. There were superhero horses,

Police and military horses were far from the only participants the Horsefest at Lake Metroparks’, however. There were superhero horses, draft horses, miniature horses and people who just wanted to come and see horses.

draft horses, miniature horses and people who just wanted to come and see horses.

Take 7-year-old Hannah Meredith from Madison Township, for example. May 19 was her birthday and her family made sure she got to Horsefest for the occasion.

“Yes. I’m having fun,’ she said, adding that her favorite part of the day was watching the black horses pulling a truck around inside the arena.

Horsefest runs through 5 p.m. May 20.

JONATHAN TRESSLER — THE NEWS-HERALD Volunteers help illustrate the rigors police workhorses have to face in the line of duty May 19 during Horsefest 2018 at Lake Metroparks’ Farmpark.

JONATHAN TRESSLER — THE NEWS-HERALD Visitors to Horsefest 2018 at Lake Metroparks’ Farmpark interact with an equine May 19 duringthe two-day event, which runs through 5 p.m. May 20.