Ottawa police expect Mounted Unit to be fully operational by end of September

The Ottawa Police Service shows off two horses for its new Mounted Unit on Tuesday. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Police Service expects the new Mounted Unit to be fully operational for major events by the end of September, as training continues for the deployment of the first horse unit in Ottawa in 30 years.

The Ontario government is providing funding for the new Mounted Unit, which will include eight horses and eight constables and one civilian member.

A report for the Ottawa Police Services Board says seven horses are currently active and five officers have been trained. Staff say the unit is deployed an average of three times per week, ranging from two to four hours each, and has been deployed for The Royal Visit and Canada Day festivities in the suburbs.

“At this time, the Mounted Unit is primarily engaged in proactive patrols within select neighbourhoods to build positive community engagement and increase police visibility,” staff said.

The report says the Mounted Unit is “not yet fully deployed for major events or demonstrations” in the downtown core because the horses have “diverse levels of exposure and training.”

“While some have participated in mounted operations with the Montreal Police Service and have experience in high-density environments, others are newer to urban operational settings,” staff said.

“This variability requires a tailored development approach to ensure all horses and riders are equally prepared for high-stress environments typical of major demonstrations. Further, the horses are not yet equipped with the specialized protective gear typically worn during public order operations, such as visors, leg guards, and flank protection.”

Police say one more horse still needs to be purchased and recruitment is underway for three additional constables.

The 2025 Ottawa Police Service budget outlined the plan to spend $1.4 million a year for three years to launch the new Mounted Patrol Unit. Funding from the Ontario and federal governments will cover the $4.2 million cost over three years for the unit.

The Ottawa Police Service last had a Mounted Unit in 1993, used mainly for ceremonial duties.