Cowboy the horse, a longtime LAPD veteran, is setting off for greener pastures on Wednesday, retiring after 18 years working crowd control, crime suppression and even helping protect the President of the United States.
The brown, 15 hands tall quarter-horse gelding has been working since he came to the LAPD barn at the age of 3. Since then he has earned a reputation as a noble steed, his human police counterparts say.
"This horse has participated in the training of every policeman who's been here since he's been here," LAPD Officer Joe Willey, the head trainer for the department, said. "He can really take the credit as a key player in the development of the riders' skills as they use those skills out in the field."
It's going to be tough parting ways for Willey because they spent nearly two decades together.
"It's a sad day," he said. "He's been an integral part of our program."
Even though Cowboy is done with his police work, he isn't done working. Cowboy will be placed in a Pasadena-based program Move A Child Higher, Inc. (MACH 1), a program that provides horseback riding activities to children with disabilities.
After years of service for the LAPD, Cowboy will be treated well and spoiled by the children at MACH 1, a fitting placement for the hard-working horse.
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Cowboy is the second retired LAPD horse to join the MACH 1 team, where he will start work right away, according to Founder and Executive Director Joy Rittenhouse.
