Horse Sense

There's been an increase in the use of mounted police in NYC - they can be seen in the parks and neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs. It has been found that each mounted police officer is the equal of ten foot police. 

All the horses ask for in return for their service is hay. On a quiet morning, you can sometimes hear the clip clop of one or more horses, bringing a bit of country to the big city. People who have been mistrustful of police often have a better relationship with mounted police - horses foster a lot of positive feeling and personal relationships are more likely to be established. It is quite common to see people petting the horses with the permission of the officer and approval of the horse. They are very well trained, as you can see here. NYC has been fortunate in that the rate of crime has gone down in recent years to the lowest levels since the early sixties. It is now the safest large city in the USA. The increased use of horses has played a part as has the type of officers that are comfortable working with them. The large drop in crime has certainly given a very different feel to life in the city.