Richmond Ride with the Richmond Police Mounted Squad 2009
Be an urban cowboy and view the historic streets and landmarks of Richmond on horseback. BYOH (Bring Your Own Horse)
The
annual Richmond Ride
with the Richmond Police Mounted Squad took
place on Sunday, April 4th. The officers and horses of the
Richmond Mounted Squad accompanied the participants on a wonderful,
memorable day of riding.
The group departed the Byrd Park at noon traveling
through the Fan District, past a number of the
historic areas of Richmond. Having completed the first
segment of
the ride, we returned to Byrd Park for a
brief
break with lunch provided by Champion Saddlery. The second part of the
ride
included a different route through the Fan district, down Cary St. and
concluding with
a picturesque
ride around Byrd Park.
It was a wonderful
four hour ride on a sunny day with our Mounted Squad.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the Optimist Club of Greater Richmond,
which provided refreshments and coffee at the beginning of the ride,
and to Champion Saddlery, Doswell, for the lunch and horse treats
during the break.
Remember "Our best behavior today"!
Richmond
Police Captain Michael Shamus, a 16-year veteran of the city
police, with little horseback skills, completed the 10-mile ride!!
"A little sore - in the legs," he said. He oversees
the city police department's special-events section
(which includes K-9 unit, mounted unit, and SWAT team), he took a crash
course in riding. He rode Sgt. Bardon's mount,
Roadrunner. (A standardbred gelding)
Many of the beautiful homes in
Richmond's Fan District were showing signs of spring with the blooming
of
the redbud trees and azaleas.
The ride is an official event of the Strawberry Hill Race Week and takes place the Sunday before the Strawberry Hill Races.
Walking down Cary Street
Lunch!
Back
at Byrd Park, lunch
was provided by Linda and Bruce Warner of Champion Saddlery.
Thanks for the wonderful lunch!!
Our lucky raffle winner!
With the proceeds for this year's fund raising we are hoping to fund
more training for the officers
and another new horse (many are getting up in age).
To participate in the Ride riders must be at least 12 years old, and horses must have a negative coggins certificate. The entry fee is $25.
Plan to
join us next year!!