The indigenous Irish Draught is very suitable to our needs,” says Sergeant Brendan Duffy who has been part of the Marcoanad An Gharda Siochana - the Garda Mounted Unit - ever since its inception back in 1998.

The keen County Offaly man’s eyes light up as Garda Nives Caplice parades a beautiful liver chesnut around the immaculate and well-appointed stable yard beside Aras an Uachtarain in the Phoenix Park.

“Now that is the type we like. He is the real deal,” he enthuses. “Look at the lovely big front on him and a good attitude, like he is saying ‘here I am’.

Named Laoch, he is by the ID stallion Merry Mate out of a Powerswood Purple dam and was bred in Crusheen, County Clare by Peter McCallen. Docile yet powerful, he is indeed a lovely model. Like all 13 geldings currently in the Unit, he is named after heroes from the great Irish myths.

Also in the group, for example, are: Cumhall by Powerwswod Purple, Rian by Crosstown Pride, Oscar by Carrick Rock Close Shave and Rinbar by Rockrimmon Silver Diamond (this one is sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland).

Dara, also by Carrick Rock Close Shave, is the latest addition to the cohort and according to Brendan, they are on the lookout for two more. Explaining how new mounts are added, he notes that they receive a contact from an owner who has one that might suit.

“We look at pictures or a video and if we are still interested, we will talk to the owner by phone to get an idea of what work the horse has done. If the answers are positive, we go and take a look, see it ridden, ask the price and if still satisfied, we sign an agreement subject to vetting and the horse successfully passing through a six-week trial here at the Unit.”

Five-year-old geldings with a good bit of work done and a good deal of Irish Draught breeding is what they are looking for.

Riders wishing to join the ranks can apply even if they do not have a great deal of experience in the saddle.

Monaghan native Nives Caplice, who has been with the Unit for more than 11 years and is now a trainer, explains that new candidates must pass through a 12 to 16-week course before being accepted. There are regular refresher courses after that as well.

The beginning

Not since an RIC unit had been disbanded back in 1913 did Ireland have mounted police on the beat. Luckily, just when the idea of re-establishing one was being muted, there came word that the North Yorkshire unit in England was being discontinued. The then Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne quickly moved to make what was an excellent deal when acquiring seven fully trained and kitted mounts for the reported sum of just £40,000. At first, the new unit was based at the Curragh but then came agreement with President Mary McAleese that the model farm stables on the grounds of the Aras could be used.

I well remember the day in 1998 when the President officially opened the block of lovely stables that had then been extended to number 15. The area is just as delightfully welcoming today as it was then 19 years ago. Gradually a cohort of Irish mounts has been brought up the 15 they have today. Some new replacements may be added shortly.

Operations

Sergeant Duffy notes that while members of the GMU have travelled to just about every corner of the Island, including North of the border to events like the Balmoral Show, it’s actual policing work is mostly confined to Dublin. But as a Support Unit, they could be called upon in search and rescue missions around the country. “Our high visibility and ability to cover rough terrain is a big asset in those situations,” the Sergeant says.

In Dublin City, they do two patrols a day – one from 7am to 5pm and another from 4pm to 2am. They have two downtown stables available to them at Dublin Castle and on Merrion Square. Their work can be either proactive in consultation with stations at Store and Pearse Streets or reactive in response to a protest or a disturbance of some sort. Again visibility is a huge advantage.

Brendan notes, on Grafton Street, a foot patrol can become just part of the crowd but two mounted Gardai are 12 feet above the ground and can be clearly seen. He recounts one unusual instance in which their patrol spotted a bag snatcher, followed him down the street where he was apprehended by a bicycle unit. They are heavily trained in arrest procedures and one can imagine the advantage that a mounted Garda can have in most crowd situations. At the conclusion of matches in Croke Park or Aviva Stadium, for example, their Filter Cordon strategy can be very effective in directing people in a certain direction. “Irish people have great affection and respect for the horse and we have had very few instances of any violence toward them. They are an ideal part of the ‘meet and greet’ policing policy”, he says.

Ceremonial

In addition to their usual high visibility patrol outfits, they have a special wear for both horse and rider on ceremonial occasions. Asked to name events that stood out during his time in the saddle, Brendan Duffy mentions the visits of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth II. “During the Queen’s visit, we had 12 members of our unit present wherever she went – the National Stud, Cashel, Cork etc”.

They have also fulfilled countless invitations to shows and events around the country from the RDS to the Rose of Tralee Festival. And so it is that this Unit has fulfilled its promise in so many ways over the last 19 years. Their current strength is one Sergeant, 10 officers and two civilians. They have passed at least two reviews with flying colours and look set for a long and very useful future.

And it is all due to the very special talents and temperament of the indigenous Irish horse.