Parade duty: Mounted units on patrol for Pens’ celebration

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

More than 600,000 people turned out to watch Penguins parade through the streets of Downtown, but other animals also attracted cheers from the crowd.

Horses named Olivia, Brando, Milo and Henry marched with the Allegheny County Police Mounted Unit on Wednesday. They were calm and regal, walking in precision, four abreast. They were not spooked by loud cheers, police motorcycles, or air-borne pieces of black and gold confetti shot out of guns.

This year, the county horses rode at the end of the parade, not far behind Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and the shiny silver Stanley Cup. Twenty state police horses also took part.

“The horses love the parade. They are people pleasers,” said Sgt. Wes McClellan, unit commander of the Allegheny County Mounted Unit.

Children and adults always cheer for the horses at public appearances, said senior patrol Officer Christopher Swanson. Officers gave permission to people who asked to pet the horses and take “selfies” with them.

“The horses love the attention,” said Sgt. McClellan. “If you scratch Henry’s head, he will nuzzle you, and when you stop he will nudge you to try to get you to keep doing it.”

Henry, 16, is a Belgian draft horse, chestnut-colored with a flaxen mane and tail. He was ridden by Sgt. Mike Horgan on Wednesday.

Officer Swanson rode Livy, 5, a black Percheron mare.

Brando, ridden by Kristine Thornton, stood out in the crowd as the only gray horse in the parade. He was donated by a person who rescued him from abuse and neglect and is thought to be between 13 and 16 years old.

Milo, 8, was ridden by Jason Donaldson. Milo’s mother was a draft horse, and his father was an Appendix-registered quarter horse, which means his father’s breeding lines include thoroughbreds.

It’s no accident that draft horses were picked for parade duty. Draft horses “have great disposition and are good in crowds. They do not spook at much of anything,” Sgt. McClellan said.

The draft horse breeds — including Clydesdales — are very strong because they were bred to work all day, plowing fields or pulling heavy loads and carriages. Draft horses and half-drafts are becoming increasingly popular with pleasure riders who enjoy their comfortable and smooth gaits,