Pa. State Police looking for some four-footed troopers

Pennsylvania State Police are seeking a special type of officer … one with four hooves.

The state police mounted patrol only uses donated horses, according to Cpl. Corporal Michael Funk, who runs runs the 25-horse unit. And it takes a special kind of animal to be accepted into their ranks, he said.

“They have to be 16 hands tall, but no bigger than 18 hands. They all have to be geldings, male horses,” he said. “And they have to be between the ages of 5 and 15.”

The horses are treated as if they were equine royalty, especially when off duty, Funk said.

“They’re fed very well. They get daily care with us here at the barn, as well as the state police cadets, they take care of the stable maintenance around here,” he said. “We treat them very good, they are our transportation. When we are riding them, they take care of us and we are going to take care of them too.”

Donated horses will be given a 90-day trial to see if they make the cut. Once retired, they will be offered back to the original owners.

Donations can be offered via email at mifunk@pa.gov