The mounted patrol unit in Ogden City is a group of volunteers who use their own horses.  The unit is primarily used part time to manage crowds, assist with major event security and attend special public appearances. The high vantage point of the rider, together with how quickly and easily the horses negotiate difficult areas, such as crowded streets, proves their value as an operational asset to the department.  A few horses can move a large crowd that normally would require 10 times the number of officers on foot. The increased rapport with the public constitutes an added benefit of mounted officers from an agency's public relations perspective.  Mounted units in parades, at public events or even while on patrol, serve as an excellent way for citizens to meet and appreciate their local law enforcement, as people often approach mounted officers to talk about and touch the horses. Uses of the Mounted Horse Patrol:  Pioneer Days Rodeo and related activites  Crowd control at other designated events  Parades at various times of the year  Search and rescue  Other events or activities as designated by the Chief of Police or Uniform Division Commander