Supporting the Equine World for More Than 90 Years
A Nonprofit Organization for Education and Horsemanship
The mission of the Long Beach Mounted Police, as a nonprofit organization, is to provide continued support of the equine world through education and demonstrations of good horsemanship, to participate in parades representing the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Police Department. The Long Beach Mounted Police proudly represents the “city by the sea,” home of the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Organized in 1935 by a group of businessmen, sportsmen, and civic leaders, the troop has participated in international and international parades including two Presidential Inaugural parades in Washington D.C. Today, our members ride beautiful golden palominos on sterling silver saddles, dressed in colorful western attire reminiscent of the 1940s cowboy movie era. In addition to parades, our members volunteer over 8,000 hours each year at charitable events, openings, educational events, and hospitals as part of our functions with the Long Beach Police Department.
Educating young people about horsemanship – patience, discipline, and “horse sense” – is a common theme for the troop. Our riders participate at their own expense and always take the time to visit with and educate the public about horses. One of our most important tasks today is to support the horse world by providing resources through a scholarship program for serious students entering equine veterinarian programs. Our most recent scholarship winner is Miss Sylvia Pryor who is now studying veterinary science at the University of California, Davis. Scholarship applications are available on this site.
Our membership is expanding, and we invite you to join us by participating in our representation of the City of Long Beach and help to expand our scholarship program. Please click on Membership for more information and an application.
Our Schedule!
*****Long Beach Mounted Police Parades and Events *****
Memorial Service Color Guard, Green Hills Mortuary/Rancho Palos Verdes
Santa Barbara Old fiesta Days Parade, 1st Friday in August. Santa Barbara
Portuguese Bend National Horse Show, September Ernie Howlett Park, Rolling Hills Estates
Our History
The Long Beach Mounted Police was founded in 1935 by 16 residents – businessmen, sportsmen, and civic leaders – to bring recognition to the City of Long Beach by riding under its banner in major parades and to keep alive California’s golden traditions of horsemanship and the outdoor way of life. The original barn and clubhouse was at Palo Verde and Wardlow (near the present-day Diagonal). Former Police Chief, Alvin Slaight, was president of the organization in 1952.
Golden palomino horses, sterling silver saddles, and the American flag are trademarks of the Long Beach Mounted Police. The group started out with horses of many colors, but in the late 1940s they changed to the golden palomino, which is symbolic of California history. The Long Beach Mounted Police have been riding in the Tournament of Roses Parade since 1948.
The saddles are all unique works of art. Each saddle is black leather, Western-style, decorated by custom-made sterling silver created by artists of the ’30s and ’40s such as Edward H. Bohlin of Hollywood. Complementing the saddle are silver and leather breast collars, bridles, and reins, as well as silver gun belts, holsters, and Western-style six-shooters. Traditional Western embroidered shirts, pants, black boots, and white hats complete the outfits.
High points in the long history of this organization include Inaugural Parades for Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 and Richard M. Nixon in 1969. In 1967, the troop rode throughout Latin America on a goodwill tour for the City of Long Beach (using horses borrowed in each city).
They visited Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City, among others. In 1970 and 2008 they rode in the world-famous Calgary Stampede in Canada. There were two trips to Cheyenne, Wyoming’s Frontier Days – 1985 and 1998, as well as trips to San Antonio, Texas in 1984 and Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1992. They flew the horses and tack to Hawaii for the King Kamehameha Parade in 1970.
The members are volunteers with the Long Beach Police Department and serve as goodwill ambassadors throughout the world. Many of the members pictured in the Mounted Police brochure photo gallery have ridden in local and regional parades such as the Martin Luther King Day Parade, Veteran’s Day Parade, and Daisy Lane Parade in Long Beach.
Other Southland parades include: San Juan Capistrano’s “Return of the Swallows” Parade, Santa Barbara Fiesta Days Parade, Portuguese Bend National Horse Show, and the Pasadena Rose Parade. New appearances often fill out the parade schedule such as Scottsdale’s Parada Del Sol, Prescott Arizona’s Frontier Days, and Las Vegas’ Helldorado Parade.
Other appearances include special events at the Santa Anita Race Track, Long Beach Veterans Hospital, the Shriner Crippled Children’s Hospital, Los Flores Historical Day in Long Beach, the Tournament of Roses Equestfest, Celebrate Reading in Long Beach, and other charities and educational events.