Northern Nevada Mounted Horse Patrol

The Northern Nevada Mounted Horse Patrol Unit, based out of the Carson City Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Furlong, held recertification training last week. Every April, Mounted Unit Commander Joe Bruno, Sgt. Curtis English and Detective Austin Broome-Phillips of Fallon conduct certification and recertification training for law enforcement, active and retired, reserve deputies, and search and rescue personnel. At its request, the unit serves any agency for assistance in crowd control for major events and civic functions, such as parades. It can also assist in locating individuals who become lost while in outlying areas of northern Nevada.

Ten instructors assisted the three trainers this year, and 43 attended the training. The trainees included Sheriff Furlong, Undersheriff Tushbant, and Captain Clay Wall for his recertification. Eight other agencies also participated in the training, including the Sheriff’s Departments from El Paso, Placerville, Elko, Pershing, Washoe Counties, and the Reno and Sparks Police Departments. In addition, civilians representing various search and rescue or reserve deputy programs also attended. Fallon attendees were Cathy Bruno, Gary and Kathryn Mills, Mike Creager, and Nancy Chapman.

 Joe and Cathy Bruno spend many hours throughout the year organizing and planning the five-day school and a trail trial at the end of Friday. During the training, the riders seldom leave their horses, except for water breaks for the horses and riders and lunch breaks. The training lasts from eight to ten hours per day. 

The horses and riders are exposed to loud noises from gunshots, all blank rounds, some of the shots being fired by a rider, to louder noises of small bombs set off safely by experienced personnel; there were firecrackers, sirens, and fireworks. The Reno Police Department brings members of the K-9 unit to expose the horses to the very sudden movement of the dogs. Washoe County Raven helicopter exposed the horses and riders to a helicopter landing in the arena, turning off the engine and allowing the horses to see the craft up close, then restarting and taking off. All of this helps to desensitize the horses to loud noises, crowds, and the commotion in general of whatever is asked of the Northern Nevada Mounted Horse Patrol Unit.

On the last day, the riders and horses demonstrated their skills in the trail trial competition to the instructor’s satisfaction to earn their training certificates.