A clinic teaching the horse training techniques used by mounted police officers will be offered June 30 at Masterson Station Park in Lexington, Ky. The clinic is designed to promote confidence in horse and rider and help horse owners learn strategies for desensitizing their horses to obstacles and unfamiliar situations.

Cost is $75 for the clinic that runs from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. with a break for lunch. Entry fees will go toward the purchase of horses and equipment for the Lexington Mounted Police unit.

Lexington Mounted Police Officers Lisa Rakes and David Johnson, who have won numerous awards in national mounted police competitions and train the unit’s horses and riders, will use ground and under saddle techniques to help you introduce your horse to a variety of obstacles (stepping up, down, over, and through unfamiliar objects, facing balloons and other UFOs, etc.).

The day will begin with a demonstration ride by Officers Rakes and Johnson. They will give a brief overview of their training philosophy while demonstrating some of the techniques they use in routine police work. In the first session of the day, attendees will be broken into two groups and will work with horses in-hand, sending them over/through different kinds of obstacles. After a lunch break, riders will tack up and complete a second session under saddle. The day will end around 2 p.m. with debriefing and a question and answer session with the instructors