When the big Standardbred "Spud" was led out for bidding at a local Fraser Valley auction, the horse's good disposition caught Kym Slater's eye. Kym couldn't resist the handsome fellow and brought him home for her family to ride. After five long years of riding and loving her adorable Spud, Kym, who is 5'3" tall, decided that Spud was just a little too tall for her!

Kym shares a special moment

Spud was born in New Jersey, USA as Southwind Marcasit. Later, the horse was re-named Imamadpan and nicknamed Spud. His sire was the world famous pacing race horse, Arts Place, and although Spud was purchased for $160,000 as a youngster, he just didn't take to pacing racing like his dad and only earned $95 in his brief pacing racing career.

Kristen had been searching for a good trail horse for her husband. It turned out that Spud was just the right size and he wasa terrific trail horse too! In fact, it was soon noticed after Spud settled into his new home with Kristen and herhusband, that Spud was so impressive that "when we found how good he was on the trails we thought we'd introduce him to the Vancouver Police Department mounted squad."

Kristen and Spud relaxing

Spud's name was changed to 'Bud the third' in honour of the two previous Standardbreds that happened to be police horses before him that had the same name.

It wasn't long before the Standardbred that had caught Kym's eye at auction completed his police work training which included full crowd control and riot training. The Vancouver Police Department Mounted Squad regularly trains with the VPD Crowd Control Unit to get the horses conditioned to loud noises such as shotguns, fireworks, firecrackers, heavy machinery and loud vehicles. Spud has also walked through lines of fire, smoke grenades and tear gas.

Spud participated in the North West Mounted Police Clinic in Prineville, Oregon. While many of the horses from other Police Departments were out of control and bumping into him, the horse held his ground and proved to the VPD that he would be a keeper and earned his own badge number as an official member.

Spud's name was changed to 'Bud the third' in honour of the two previous Standardbreds that happened to be police horses before him that had the same name.

Kym and Kristen are very proud of the horse's accomplishments, yet both insist that "He will always be Spud to us!"

Standardbred horses are valued partners in police work

Standardbred horses are renowned for their bravery and sensible personalities. For this reason, the Standardbred horses have served their countries with utmost dedication and stoicism in all kinds of circumstances in police work.

You will see Standardbred horses assisting their police partners in riot work, public relations work and patrol work assignments, to name a few of the occupations within the police scope that make the Standardbred horses so outstanding.

The Standardbred horses are well known for their reliable and courageous personalities. In times where other horses might balk, the brave and level-headed Standardbred horse will use the logic to assess the situation and proceed with steadfast dependability.

In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) musical rides are extremely popular and also include Standardbred horses. The horses are real crowd pleasers and the children are mesmerized by the horses talents and beauty. Our members also enjoy participating in parades and Standardbred horses are also talented for search and rescue.

If you see a noble and kind-eyed four legged horse on patrol, it might just be the Standardbred horse showing how versatile and talented the Standardbred horse breed really is.