Madison residents had a unique chance to meet the city’s mounted police horses during a fundraising event hosted by the Friends of Madison Mounted Horse Patrol at Alpine Ridge Orchard in Brooklyn. The event featured all six horses—Bubba, Torres, Cooper, Thor, Spirit, and Buckets—alongside their officers, offering the public an opportunity to learn about the unit’s role in crowd control, search and rescue, and maintaining safety on busy streets like State Street. The mounted unit’s hours were recently extended to enhance their presence during late-night bar closing times, reflecting the city’s appreciation of their effectiveness.

The fundraiser combined educational activities about the specialized training and care of police horses with family-friendly apple picking, fostering community engagement and support for the unit. The Friends group continues to raise funds to cover the costs of maintaining the horses and their equipment. While no further public events are currently planned, residents interested in informal meet-and-greet sessions can find information on the City of Madison’s website.