In this episode of Behind the Star, we visit the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit to learn what it’s really like to patrol on horseback.

Master Deputy Lindsay Gonzalez and Corporal Niko Velazquez share how they joined the mounted unit, what it takes to train for the job and the strong bonds formed between deputies and their horses. 

Lindsay and Niko talk about patrol work, crowd control, parades, and how horses play a role in community engagement and search and rescue. They also discuss training challenges, funny stories from the field, and what it’s like when a horse retires.

0:44 – History and purpose of the unit  2:30 – Horses: how many, how they’re assigned, and their personalities  7:20 – Daily care, barn duties, and the reality of poop patrol  10:32 – Matching horses to events and understanding their temperaments  11:34 – Where the horses come from and why most are donated  15:13 – Meet James, Justice, Grace, Alessandro, Pocket Change, Remington, Pete, and Blackjack  29:14 – Retirement: when, why, and where they go  31:00 – Law enforcement uses: presence, patrol, and search and rescue  35:12 – Memorable stories, de-escalations, and the public’s love for the unit  39:20 – Weird snacks, funny habits, and diva horses  42:00 – Horses’ intelligence, emotions, and long memories