We, the undersigned, demand the immediate and permanent abolition of all mounted (horse) units used by the Los Angeles Police Department and any law enforcement agency operating within Los Angeles County.

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This is not a symbolic request. This is a demand grounded in the urgent need to end the ongoing exploitation, endangerment, and abuse of horses in policing.

Horses are sentient, sensitive animals. Yet they are routinely forced into chaotic, high-stress environments—crowded protests, loud urban streets, and volatile enforcement actions—where they are exposed to sirens, explosions, physical confrontation, and unpredictable human movement. These conditions are fundamentally incompatible with their well-being.

Mounted policing is not only outdated—it is inherently cruel.

Documented Harm and Abuse

Across the United States, mounted police programs have repeatedly resulted in injury, trauma, and death:

• During the George Floyd protests, multiple cities deployed mounted units into dense crowds, leading to documented incidents where horses trampled or struck civilians while themselves showing signs of distress and panic.

• In New York, footage from protests showed officers from the New York Police Department driving horses into crowds, resulting in injuries to both people and animals, and sparking widespread condemnation from animal welfare advocates.

• In Houston, a mounted police horse collapsed and died following prolonged exposure to extreme heat during patrol duties—raising serious concerns about the conditions these animals are forced to endure.

• Veterinary and animal behavior experts—including organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association—have long acknowledged that horses are highly reactive prey animals, meaning they are biologically prone to fear and flight responses when exposed to loud, chaotic environments. Forcing them into such situations creates foreseeable and preventable harm.

These are not isolated incidents. They are predictable outcomes of a fundamentally flawed practice.

Cruelty Disguised as Tradition

Mounted policing persists not because it is necessary, but because it is normalized.

The use of horses in law enforcement is often framed as “community engagement” or “crowd management.” In reality, it places animals in positions of coercion and control—forcing them to act as physical barriers, intimidation tools, and instruments of force.

No ethical public safety strategy should rely on the bodies of animals to control human beings.

Public Safety Risks

Mounted units also pose serious risks to the public:

• A single horse weighs over 1,000 pounds. In crowded environments, even minor missteps can cause severe injury.

• Horses can be startled by noise, sudden movement, or confrontation—making them unpredictable in precisely the situations where police claim control is needed.

• The presence of mounted officers often escalates tension rather than de-escalates it, increasing the likelihood of harm.

These risks are avoidable. The harm is preventable. The practice is unjustifiable.

We Demand Immediate Action

We call on the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and all relevant agencies to:

1. Immediately and permanently ban all mounted police units within Los Angeles County.

2. End the use of horses for patrol, crowd control, ceremonial functions, and public events.

3. Develop and publicly release a humane transition plan to retire, rehabilitate, and rehome all horses currently used in policing—prioritizing accredited sanctuaries and lifelong care. 

4. Prohibit any future acquisition or training of horses for law enforcement purposes.

5. Ensure full transparency and public accountability regarding the current conditions, injuries, and outcomes experienced by horses in custody of law enforcement agencies.

A Moral and Necessary Shift

Los Angeles has the opportunity to lead with compassion, evidence, and integrity.

Ending mounted policing is not just about animal welfare—it is about rejecting outdated, harmful practices and committing to public safety models that do not rely on fear, force, or exploitation.

We refuse to accept the continued suffering of animals as a tool of policing.

We demand change. We demand accountability. We demand abolition.

No more horses in policing. Period. 

Signed,

Los Angeles County Community Members, Advocates, and Supporters