32nd Annual Mardi Gras School: In Mobile, Alabama, preparations for Mardi Gras are in full swing, with the Mobile Police Department’s (MPD) Mounted Auxiliary gearing up for their Mardi Gras School. The school trains mounted agencies on crowd control techniques, utilizing horses like Miss Judy and Miss Jasmin.
The MPD’s Mounted Auxiliary patrols downtown streets, providing essential manpower. According to Audria Anderson, MPD Mounted Auxiliary Unit Leader, one mounted patrol officer on horseback can be as effective as 10 officers on the ground for crowd control. The elevated position on horseback allows them to better observe and manage crowds.
A small-scale demonstration for the upcoming Mardi Gras School involved three horses and handlers navigating through smoke. Anderson explained that horses struggle with walking through smoke as it appears as a solid object to them. The training helps horses overcome their resistance to walking through smoke, a vital skill during Mardi Gras events.
The Mardi Gras School, now in its 32nd year, is a week and a half course exposing riders and horses to various scenarios they might encounter during the festivities. The training includes exercises at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, where they practice reactions to ambulances, fire trucks, helicopters, and bomb simulations.
To keep costs low for auxiliary volunteers, they rely on sponsorships and fundraising. Local businesses are encouraged to contribute to cover the costs of the course and training supplies.
The Mounted Auxiliary emphasizes community service, not just in Mobile but beyond. Their work involves patrolling parade routes, handling crowds, and engaging in various scenarios to ensure a safe Mardi Gras celebration.
The Mounted Auxiliary will host a mini Mardi Gras Clinic on January 14th, where riders with their own horses can participate, provided the horses have a current negative Coggins test. The cost of the mini-clinic is $150, and sponsorships from local businesses are welcomed to support the auxiliary members in covering their expenses for the course and training supplies.