Hey, I'm Officer Ronie Esquivel. Thank you very much for tuning into our vlog.
Today, we're gonna hang out with the Mounted Patrol Unit that's located at
our Capitol, but first we need to prep the horses. So let's go see if they need
some help. Let's go.
Sergeant DiMaggio? - oh good morning, how are you?
Good, how are you? - Great Ronie Esquivel. Good morning. Ronie Esquivel. - Brennan Moore
We are just about to get started on our morning chores and get our horses ready and give them their
mash.
Awesome, this feels good.
In the morning and afternoon, this is our uniform
because it's easy to wash. If you don't like to get dirty it's definitely not the job
for you.
What's your favorite part about working at MPU?
It's that relationship with the animal. Without a doubt. I worked 18 years in a patrol car out in the
field and there's nothing like getting on the back of a horse at the Capitol.
Just the reaction from the public that you get. Just the awe. People remind me every
day how cool my job is.
So for someone like me who's wearing a cowboy hat for the
very first time...let's say suddenly I strike an interest and I want to get on
the Mounted Patrol Unit. I don't have any personal experience, I've never been on a
horse, I've never been around horses... Is this attainable?
It's actually preferred because you don't have any bad habits yet.
It's a lot harder for me to train somebody out of their bad habits then it is just to start fresh.
I would ask that you take some basic lessons just so that you are familiar with the horse
you can groom them, so that you're safe around the horse.
And then the rest I like to do. I prefer to train you from the ground up.
Awesome, so there's hope!
Yeah, there's definitely hope. - Horses are ready to eat.
Sam, there you go, say "hi". That's Sampson.
So he's a solid horse. We can put anybody on him and that's the horse we're gonna surprise you with
so you get to hop on him before we head out. - There's a surprise coming (laughter)
This is so cool. Oh, stop. Whoa. Stay.
Before they go through all the trouble of grooming the horse, saddling the horse, they need to make sure the
horse is fit for duty. - Just like our pre-patrol check.
Exactly, that's a perfect analogy. It's a pre-horse patrol check.
I have them trot out, so we're watching the back end of that horse to see if they're even
and then when he turns around, very controlled, he'll come back towards us
and I'll be watching the front end make sure everything's sound and healthy there.
Pretty amazing for your first time.
And since he's yours today...it's your job. - I gotta pick it up, alright.
One of the things that is important is we check their feet.
Check inside where the shoe is because it'll get compacted with poop and dirt
and sometimes rocks and gravel and that'll make them lame.
This just helps us brush it out and gives it a little shine.
And it's just a quick..you're just brushing that last bit of dust off so we can throw the saddle on.
So remember that little surprise we talked about earlier?
Well, here it is.
I'm actually gonna get up on a horse. Again, I have never ever ridden a horse in my life.
This is the first time I've actually been around horses, so this is all brand new to me.
Wish me luck. Alright. - Grab that mane.
Here? - Yup. Good job.
This is something we do in training to help teach the riders balance. - Okay
And how important that is - I thought the horse was gonna go around the world
but we have to go around the world.
This is a competition. One, two, three!
Wow look at that! Alright, that was awesome!
Boy, there's no embarrassing you. You're definitely athletic, without a doubt.
That's probably the most graceful first time around the world I've ever seen.
There you go, clear that foot. Now drop.
No, my giraffe. He's a trained giraffe horse.
We're all done here. I'm gonna change out and we're gonna
head to the Capitol and finish off the rest of our day, so let's go!
Alright! We made it to the Capitol. Changed into my uniform. All the horses look pristine.
All the officers are in there in their uniforms. And so now you can get a real
good perspective of how massive these horses are. They're massive because
the CHP only uses one type of horse, right? - That's correct
And what type of horse does the CHP use? - Exclusively we use draft horses.
Why did the Department use draft? - Their very nature is very docile, very relaxed. They're not easily spooked
or scared. And then their large size is great, for you know, peacefully being
able to move large crowds, or for any type of civil disturbance.
At the Capitol we get thousands of school groups every day and today is no exception.
They're very quiet, they allow the kids to come up. They get an opportunity to pet them and ask questions.
- Tell me a little bit about the daily duties. We saw what we did in the
beginning of your shift and now that we're here at the Capitol,
obviously things are a lot different. - You know, what we do here at the Capitol is a little
different than anywhere else and we have a lot of
city police department type duties.
We're in charge of protecting the State Capitol and all of its assets as well as the other state
buildings in downtown Sacramento. First thing that we do when we get them off
the trailer, is do a trip around the Capitol Park and make sure everything is as it should be.
Once we've patrolled the park a couple times, then we'll go
check other state buildings nearby. Much of what you would do in a patrol car but
the horses are able to get into areas downtown that you can't with a patrol car.
- We're gonna let them get on with their beat. I got one last question.
Do you think I got what it takes? - Oh absolutely!
You're a natural! You're a natural! - Hear that? Cool. Awesome. Thank you so much! I had a pleasure.
Again, this was a first-time experience for me and I cannot thank you enough.
So remember, please like, subscribe, comment below, and we'll see you at our next Vlog.
Have a good one!