Membership Requirements

Whether human or equine, all members of the horse patrol are required to meet strict qualification criteria. Ranger candidates must be 18 years of age or older, and must undergo a background check, demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills with horses and people and agree to random drug testing. Candidates that are accepted into the Ranger training program will be trained in:

• Horsemanship
• Mounted law enforcement techniques
• Security procedures
• Backcountry emergency medical care
• Land navigation
• And other specialized training.

For the security of the unit, its Rangers and mounts, all candidates and Rangers in the Vermont Mounted Response Unit must agree in writing to keep confidential the copyrighted training program, materials and methods used by the unit as well as the details of any deployment.

Rangers serving with the unit include those with experience in law enforcement, emergency medical services, tactical operations, wilderness rescue, human tracking, animal tracking, public relations, wilderness survival and education.

Mounts are selected for their personality, physical ability and aptitude. They need not be of a particular breed, so long as they are solidly built and intelligent, with a tremendous love of people. Most of our mounts are geldings, but a reliable mare may also be considered.