I was in the 4th of July parade and while waiting in line in the staging area with my mares hooked to a wagon full of children. All of a sudden a police car pulls up right next to the shoulder of my near mare and blasts every light and siren and then drives away. I know most of the police in the town but could not see into the car from where I sat in the wagon. The reaction of my horses was amazing ....they did not even jump but they did crane their necks so the could see around the blinders to what was making that noise. When I figure out who was driving we will have a little talk.

You are showing great restraint, Dave. I would have added a knuckle sandwich to that talk.

I think I would be talking to the chief if you don't know this jerk. Most states have laws against intentional scaring of animals. I know in New Jersey a rider or driver can motion for a vehicle to stop until they are past. Haven't researched it in Pa. I haven't had any problems yet here.

We live on Wyoming State hwy #20 and the traffic is very, very heavy. Big 18 wheelers by the score, headed to Montana. It is a good place to teach a horse to be traffic safe as we have a wide '"borrow pit" that is flat and fairly safe. I am very respectful of all these big truckers who see me regularly out on the road either with a team or a single horse and "no honking" or noise. Most will slow down some. If I have a skittish horse, I generally put up my hand or give a slow down signal and all goes well. Your patrol person needs a lesson in manners!

I would definitely go to the top of the food chain on that and speak to the Chief. That was no place to be a smart alec or show off. The potential for a disaster was there.

So glad for you, your horses and the kids aboard that the wreck didn't happen! My first thought when I read your post was that you have an exceptional pair of mares. Congratulations to you and the mares - don't know if they are just really sensible or if you've done everything possible to make 'em that way but you deserve a huge pat of the back. Isn't it a wonderful thing to have them respond that way? Post a picture if you can, would love to see your special team. Hope it goes well with the talking to the driver of the patrol car, needs a little educating there.

The police officer probably was not aware of the potential dangerous situation. There is no need to get riled up. He/she probably just needs to be informed, not thrashed. Sounds like you have a great team! I'm glad nobody was hurt.

I work for the local sheriff's Office and I thought when PD car pulled up someone was going to say ,hello to me. I still have not gotten an answer to who was driving . I am on very good terms with all of the pd officers . I have a hunch the culprit might be someone other than a PD cfficer....ie a code enforcement worker or possibly our fire chief.
My mares pulled for a Sleigh ride dinner operation in the winter and they get a lot of exposure to a lot of different stimuli from screaming children , snow sliding off rooftops people making the kiss or cluck noise trying to get that special photo . The scariest was the time someone let their 3 yr old run under the legs of the right side mare while they were hooked to the sleigh. The parents were not even aware the kid had gone there. I am pretty pround of my girls ,but I still respect the potential for wrecks.