Specialty Units: Meet the Horses
Henry
Belgian Gelding born in 1999
In 2007, Senior Patrol Officer Swanson (now retired) was on patrol in South Park when he saw a girl riding Henry through the Fairgrounds. SPO Swanson talked with her about her horse and told her if she ever wanted to donate him we would be interested. Six months later she had to move for a job, and he was donated. In 2011, Henry developed a sarcoid (a form of skin cancer) on his face around his right eye. We thought he would lose the eye, and his police career would be over. A local vet did an experimental procedure similar to human chemotherapy on him and was able to save his eye. The cancer remains in remission to this day.
Livy
Percheron Mare born in 2012
Livy was bred to be a carriage horse, and was broken to pull, as well as be a saddle horse. Her owners were retired law enforcement officers from a Sheriff’s department in Florida who now have a dairy farm in Ohio. Livy was only four years old when we got her, which is very young for a police horse. She took to the job right away. Her first detail was a protest where she had to lead our unit through a large crowd. She did her job flawlessly and has become one of our best horses.
Milo
Draft Cross born in 2009
Milo was donated by a woman who was a fox hunter. For whatever reason, Milo did not like fox hunting and would give her a hard time. Since donating the horse to the unit, Milo has excelled and been a great addition. He has unique “gruella” markings, which are zebra like stripes on his legs, and a dorsal stripe on his back, which makes him the flashy movie star of the barn.
Happy
Belgian Gelding born in 2010
Happy and his sister, Honey, were brother and sister best friends. The duo was donated by a farmer from Butler County under one condition - that we would keep them together. We did just that and they became popular members of our detail. When they were together, they looked and walked like identical twins until recently when Honey passed away.
Mackie
Clydesdale Mare born in 2008
Mackie was donated in June of 2019 by a woman in Pittsburgh. The woman had owned Mackie since she was 2 years old. She chose to donate her to the department because she would be able to visit with and groom her from time to time. Before coming to the County Police, Mackie was used as a therapy horse for children with intellectual challenges.
Jimbo
Percheron Gelding born in 2013
Jimbo is one of the largest horses in the County Police stables. He was purchased through a donation from Jim Kudis, the President of Allegheny Petroleum which is headquartered in Wilmerding, PA. Jimbo was named after Mr. Kudis by his daughter, Barbara. Jimbo came from the same dairy farm in Ohio as Livy.
Cappy
Percheron/Paint Mix Gelding born in 2006
Cappy (renamed from Guiness) was donated from a private owner after PO Spinneweber had private riding lessons on him.