The horse behind the badge

What is white, stands at 17 hands, weighs 400 lbs shy of a ton and wears designer shoes? The answer is Bismark, one of three horses that make up the mounted unit of N.C. State’s Campus Police.

Started in 2006 when officer Lillian Moore donated her horse to the program, the most recent additions came from an outside source. The Fayetteville Police Department donated two horses from their disbanded mounted unit, one of which being Bismark and the other his friend Cowboy.

When asked why the department chose the name Bismark, Director of Campus Police Tom Younce laughed a little, said to “wait and see,” and shortly thereafter an imperial white giant trotted through the trees.

According to Younce, Bismark is named after the mammoth World War II battleship USS Bismarck. His dedicated service to the N.C. State community has earned him a badge of his own. He is a good tempered horse, but his size is truly intimidating.

Bismark’s rider, Officer Fitzpatrick, is training him to handle crowds and loud noises, including sirens and helicopter noise. It is important that the horses are accustomed to these sorts of alarming conditions so they do not spook and throw their riders, or kick in a crowd, Fitzpatrick said. While Bismark is quite gentlemanly and calm, he is very energetic.

“He’s a big boy, and the trouble is, he knows it,” Fitzpatrick said.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Advertisement