Two local horses join the Calgary City Police Service

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice, from multiple sources
updated December 2 with press release from Windy Coulee

Dawn Pippin :
new job and soon a new name

The Calgary City Police Service recently purchased two Windy Coulee Canadian horses.  Windy Coulee is located north and east of Pincher Creek, where owners Heidi Eijgel and David Glass raise and train quality Canadian horses while managing the native prairie grassland and riparian areas of their land in as sustainable a manner as possible .


Windy Coulee horses Kamouraska Strydr and Dawn Pippin were trained to become Police Horses after being purchased by the Service earlier this year to replace Cowboy and Bart, who retired as the longest-serving member in 2010.  They will be renamed as part of the transition.


The Mounted Unit has narrowed the names to six, Rio, Ranger, Chief, Scout, Sarg, and Commander, and now ask the public’s help to chose their two favourites. The winning names will be announced in January 2012. The "Name-that-horse" contest begins today, December 1,  and ends on January 3, 2012.

Click here to vote for your favourite names. 

Heidi Eijgel atop Kamouraska Stryder, who also
has a new job, and soon a new name

The Calgary Police Service has used horses for patrol since the turn of the century, with the formation of the current Mounted Unit in 1978. Members are required to spend four years in district patrol before applying for the Unit. They are chosen based on their work ethic and riding ability. The horses used in the Unit come from farms and ranches throughout the Prairies, and are chosen based on their personality, size and colour. Mounted patrol duties include public relations, patrolling the streets and pathways, and search operations in parks and along riverbanks.

The Mounted Unit currently has four working horses, and is currently led by Sgt. Derrick McGougan.

Along with the opportunity to help name the horses, the CPS Mounted Unit is giving the public a chance to spend a day with them. After voting, anyone interested in entering the contest can send their details to tellcps@calgarypolice.ca. Two winners will be chosen in January.

Members of the Mounted Unit introduced the two new new horses to the public and the press this afternoon at the South Glenmore Park Polo Fields in Calgary.

To visit the Windy Coulee Canadian Horse website click here.

Press release from Windy Coulee:


Two horses bred on a farm near Pincher Creek, Alberta have joined the Calgary Police Service Mounted Unit.  Strydr age 5, and Pippin age 7, were born and raised on the farm.  With a goal to raise quality, well trained Canadian Horses while also caring for the grassland and riparian ecosystems in a sustainable way, these two horses will make Windy Coulee proud.

Heidi Eijgel, owner of Windy Coulee Canadian Horses says  “As a breeder of Canadian Horses, I could not imagine a better career for a horse. I am thrilled they are going to be working partners for the officers in the mounted unit.”

The Canadian Horse is a unique horse breed which was designated the Official Horse of Canada in 2003.  They are superb horses who excel at many different tasks such as driving, riding for pleasure and competition.  They are solid, athletic, cooperative and have a fancy edge to them!

Horses from Windy Coulee Canadians gain experience in the backcountry mountain trails of SW Alberta where they can encounter hikers, cyclists, wildlife, mud, rivers, thunderstorms, bridges, cliffs and “the unexpected”!   “Training in the mountains is also a very nice way to spend time on the horses you are working with, and it gives them a solid foundation as youngsters.”   It also provides an excellent workout Eijgel says.  “Horses that are ridden consistently, and are in good physical condition, stay healthy and have a better chance to develop other capacities such as would be needed for any “profession” whether it is competing in the show ring or working as a Patrol Service Horse.”

Constable Dave Hagedorn, with the Calgary Police Service Mounted Unit says “The horses have been with the mounted unit since August, they are progressing very well and we found them to be very versatile and bold horses!”