The annual Mobile Mardi Gras Mounted School saw 32 horses and their riders participating in important training for law enforcement agencies and volunteers who use horses during events. The training exposed horses and riders to stressful conditions to help desensitize them and build confidence, with participants being exposed to helicopters, motorcycles, sirens, explosions, and more.

One participant, Joan Burlingame from Seattle, emphasized the importance of having well-trained animals for safety reasons, stating that she wanted her mules to behave no matter what they see to prevent accidents. Several of the horse and rider teams were officers from law enforcement agencies like the Mobile Police Department’s Mounted Unit and the Oxford Police Department in Mississippi, who found the training to be beneficial in improving their riding skills and policing abilities.

While events like Mardi Gras are not common in places like Oxford, Mississippi, officers from the Oxford Police Department still found the training valuable for preparing for other events like football games that bring a lot of activity to the college town. The training was seen as a way to create success and safety for both the horses and the officers involved, helping them become better riders and police officers overall.