Stop Horsing Around

A night out on Oxford’s Square looks like a Friday night in most college towns: students and visitors filling up bars and restaurants, loud music pulsing into the streets and lines of Ubers and taxis looking for their next passenger.

But one thing that sets apart Oxford’s nightlife scene from some other collegiate counterparts is the Oxford Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit. The group of eight horses stand tall over the crowded streets and alleys of the Square, put in place to manage the large crowds that accumulate during weekends in Oxford.

Photo Courtesy: Megan Suttles

You’ve probably seen Snapchats of rowdy Square-goers trying to pet the horses, and OPD’s Twitter account has posted photos of Ole Miss legends like Archie Manning hanging out with the herd.

OPD’s David Misenhelter is the officer in charge of the unit and spends much of his time ensuring the horses are ready for weekends on the Square.

Misenhelter said that the horses are an excellent tool for crowd management, law enforcement and public relations.

“Due to the increased height on a horse, the mounted officer is able to survey a large area quickly and address problem situations effectively,” he said. “The officer and his mount are also a crime deterrent due to their increased visibility to the public.”

Misenhelter said the mounted unit boosts OPD’s manpower on busy nights.

Photo Courtesy: Megan Suttles

“One mounted patrol officer and his or her horse is compared to the effectiveness of 10 police officers on foot in crowd control situations,” he said.

In addition to working with the horses while on Square duty, Misenhelter directs much of the care and training of OPD’s horses at the stable.

“We oversee healthcare of the herd, maintain the facility and equipment and provide ongoing training to horses and riders to keep their abilities sharp,” he said.

Horses undergo a rigorous training process before they officially become members of the herd.

“During the initial training and evaluation phase, each horse is assessed and put through obstacles like tarps, fireworks and smoke,” Misenhelter said. “Also, the horse will be further assessed while working alone and in groups with other horses. Sensory and crowd control situations will be introduced at this point.”

Photo Courtesy: Megan Suttles

Once a horse has passed this phase, they move on to various locations and neighborhoods in Oxford before heading to their final test: patrolling the Square.

“The downtown area is very dynamic for training as there is continuous vehicular and pedestrian traffic, balconies, music and ever changing scenery,” Misenhelter said.

Misenhelter said his favorite part of working with the horses is seeing their training help them blossom into effective patrol horses.

“It doesn’t come easily,” he said. “It takes patience and consistency to help them overcome their fears and gain confidence on the street.”

Misenhelter also noted that Mounted Patrol helps to create a special bond between the Oxford community and the police department.

“We interact with hundreds of people during the course of a shift,” he said. “Some people have never been that close to horses and enjoy visiting with them. Being out on the street at all times gives us the ability to connect with people.”

Full story to be in The Ole Miss 2019 Yearbook.

Maddie McGee

Assisting Writing Editor

Maddie McGee is a senior print journalism and political science major from Baltimore, Maryland. She is this year’s assistant writing editor and has worked in the Student Media Center since her sophomore year. She enjoys reading, binge-watching Harry Styles concert videos and daydreaming about her eventual move to New York City.

95 Comments
  1. Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
    I’m trying to get my site to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m
    not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share.
    Appreciate it! You can read similar blog here: Blankets

  2. You are so awesome! I don’t believe I’ve read through a single thing like that before. So good to discover somebody with original thoughts on this subject. Seriously.. thanks for starting this up. This site is something that is required on the internet, someone with some originality.

  3. This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a brand new spin on a subject which has been discussed for decades. Wonderful stuff, just great.

  4. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!

  5. Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily basis. It will always be helpful to read content from other authors and practice something from other web sites.

  6. Herpafend price and reviews Herpafend is a
    dietary supplement designed to reduce herpes symptoms.
    It strengthens the body’s defenses and reduces the frequency of outbreaks.
    Made with ingredients like elderberry essence, echinacea,
    and L-lysine amino acid, Herpafend aids in maintaining health.

    Manufactured in the USA in an FDA-certified facility,
    Herpafend maintains premium standards. It is genetically unmodified and gluten-free.
    People mention less frequent and less severe outbreaks.

    Give Herpafend a try and notice the change in your symptom control.

  7. From the Jim Corbett to the six nationwide parks in Andaman, every park has its personal specific characteristic and wildlife reserves which give a special expertise of adventure and thrill to the guests.

  8. Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
    I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted
    keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains.
    If you know of any please share. Kudos! I saw similar text here:
    Change your life

  9. Great items from you, man. I have be mindful your stuff prior to and you are just too
    wonderful. I really like what you have got here, really like what you’re saying and the
    way in which through which you are saying it. You’re making it entertaining and you continue to
    care for to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you.
    That is actually a great website.

  10. I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.

  11. I discovered your site website on google and appearance several of your early posts. Always maintain inside the really good operate. I just now additional your Rss to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more on your part at a later time!…

  12. Welcome to NanoDefense Pro is the official website of a powerful supplement that is an advanced skincare and nail support formula that uses cutting-edge nanotechnology to rejuvenate and restore health from within.

  13. Roll‑forming gutters right in your driveway means each section is one continuous piece—no leaky joints, no wasted metal, no compromises on quality. Homeowners across Proctor District rave that our color‑matched downspouts actually enhance curb appeal instead of looking like cheap after‑thoughts. Proper downspout extensions send runoff well past your flowerbeds so you spend weekends gardening instead of dealing with muddy erosion trenches.

  14. Homeowners across Proctor District rave that our color‑matched downspouts actually enhance curb appeal instead of looking like cheap after‑thoughts. Annual tune‑ups are available; we flush, reseal corners and adjust hangers so your system keeps working even after the roughest winter freeze–thaw cycles. Because we’re veteran‑owned we show up on time, measure twice, and treat every property with the kind of respect we learned back in basic training.

  15. Wonderful paintings! That is the kind of info that should be shared across the net. Shame on the seek engines for not positioning this post upper! Come on over and talk over with my web site . Thanks =)

  16. Have you ever considered writing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog centered on the same ideas you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would appreciate your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.

  17. With rain coming sideways across Commencement Bay, hidden drip‑edge flashing stops water from sneaking behind the fascia and into your attic insulation. Proper downspout extensions send runoff well past your flowerbeds so you spend weekends gardening instead of dealing with muddy erosion trenches. Local building codes here in Pierce County require you to manage runoff responsibly, so a properly sloped gutter system keeps foundations safe and neighbors happy.

  18. Can I just say what a reduction to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You positively know how you can bring an issue to mild and make it important. More folks must read this and understand this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre not more standard because you positively have the gift.

  19. We stumbled over here from a different web page and thought I may as well check things
    out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to looking at your web page for a second time.

  20. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your blog when you could be giving us something enlightening to read?

  21. I do love the manner in which you have framed this specific situation plus it does offer us some fodder for consideration. However, coming from what I have seen, I really hope as the actual feedback pile on that people today remain on issue and in no way embark on a soap box of the news of the day. Still, thank you for this fantastic piece and although I can not really agree with the idea in totality, I regard the perspective.

  22. Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m absolutely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.

  23. I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write content to suit your needs? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write about here. Again, awesome blog!

  24. I do consider all the ideas you’ve presented to your post. They are very convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for newbies. May just you please prolong them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.

  25. Normally I do not read post on blogs, but I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look at and do so!
    Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very great post.

  26. Good day! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.