If not for the generosity of the Grace Foundation, the Folsom Police Mounted Patrol Unit could meet the fate of other mounted units in the state.

A unique partnership between the non-profit equine rescue group and the Folsom unit was formed three years ago.

Beth DeCaprio, foundation director, got together with Sgt. Dirk Regan, of the Folsom Police Department, to forge the agreement.

The Grace Foundation would care for the horses at no charge. In exchange, the Mounted Police Unit would be incorporated into Grace’s educational programs, presentations and special events at the ranch, where more than 6,000 children visit each year, DeCaprio said.

“Our relationship with the Folsom Mounted Patrol benefits everyone involved — the horses, the police, and most importantly, the children and community,” DeCaprio said. “Our goal at Grace is to teach that everyone has a purpose in life, including our animals.”

The Folsom Police Mounted Patrol Unit was established in May of 2004 and currently comprises two city-owned horses and two personally owned reserve horses. The Mounted Unit was established to act as support to the patrol division.

The Mounted Unit is routinely involved in the following community activities including National Night Out, the Folsom Rodeo and neighborhood watch programs.

In exchange for feed and board, the Mounted Unit holds demonstrations for teens involved in youth outreach programs at the Grace Foundation Center.

In December the San Diego police department was forced to cut department spending, thus eliminating its equine unit. The seven horses have been put up for auction.

Sgt. Regan expressed concern for the communities that are losing their equine units.

“Horses offer a high visibility method for crime prevention,” he said. “They can travel into areas where cars simply cannot go.”

The unit is also active in basic patrol duties such as retail parking enforcement, focus enforcement on property crimes, outside agency assist for crowd control and search and rescue operations

Besides working with the at-risk youth at the ranch, the police teach a segment for Grace’s Life Science field trips that are offered year round.

To learn more, visit thegracefoundationofnorcal.org.

Penne Usher can be reached at penne.usher@gmail.com.