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Home News Local News

Helpful Hooves: Montgomery County Fair And Rodeo Gets Security Support From Horse Patrol – Houston Chronicle

helpful-hooves:-montgomery-county-fair-and-rodeo-gets-security-support-from-horse-patrol-–-houston-chronicle
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Laura Alexander with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse talks to her horse as she and three other members of the group prepare for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
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Laura Alexander with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse talks to her horse as she and three other members of the group prepare for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Marilyn Kinney, left, leads a members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
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Marilyn Kinney, left, leads a members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Montgomery County Pct. 2 Constable Reserve Lt. Mile Cross, left, talks with Laura Alexander’s horse before another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
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Montgomery County Pct. 2 Constable Reserve Lt. Mile Cross, left, talks with Laura Alexander’s horse before another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Marilyn Kinney with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare her horse and gear for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
4of14

Marilyn Kinney with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare her horse and gear for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
5of14

Members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Marilyn Kinney, second from left, leads a members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
6of14

Marilyn Kinney, second from left, leads a members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
7of14

Members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Montgomery County Pct. 2 Constable Reserve Lt. Mile Cross, left, gives Marilyn Kinney’s horse a peppermint before another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
8of14

Montgomery County Pct. 2 Constable Reserve Lt. Mile Cross, left, gives Marilyn Kinney’s horse a peppermint before another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Kimberly Conner with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare her gear for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
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Kimberly Conner with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare her gear for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Marilyn Kinney, second from left, leads a members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
10of14

Marilyn Kinney, second from left, leads a members of the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

The Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
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The Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Horses with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse are seen before another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
12of14

Horses with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse are seen before another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Laura Alexander with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare her horse and gear for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
13of14

Laura Alexander with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse prepare her horse and gear for another evening at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Marilyn Kinney with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse wears a cap for the mounted patrol at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.
14of14

Marilyn Kinney with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse wears a cap for the mounted patrol at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Friday, April 1, 2022, in Conroe. The 15-member volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days.

Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less

Year after year at the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, the 15-member Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Mounted Posse carries out two critical undertakings: security and fun.

“People love it. They like to come over and pet the horses,” Mounted Posse President Laura Alexander said about her horse-riding team’s draw for attendees at Conroe’s Montgomery County Fairgrounds.

With their horseback visibility reaching around 8 feet, the volunteer group adds to law enforcement surveillance efforts at the fairgrounds during some of the rodeo and fair’s busiest days, Alexander explained. And the enjoyment the steeds provide fairgoers make the riders more approachable for those seeking help at the popular event, she noted.

“Having their presence out there does make a difference,” said Mike Heimer, former Montgomery County agriculture and natural resources agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The current rodeo and fair volunteer added that attendees “feel reassured when you’ve got folks out there you can see.”

The use of horses also allows that help to navigate the cluster of cars more easily in case there is a search for a missing child, she added.

Anyone 18 or older, who owns a horse and truck and trailer, and is interested in joining the Mounted Posse is asked to call the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office at 936-539-7854.

A skills test on maneuvering the horse and the animal’s willingness to work is required.

The group uses handheld radios to communicate with police officers on the scene. The most common issue, according to the posse leader, are people unable to locate their vehicle or their vehicle getting blocked.

Mounted Posse members, many of whom have full-time jobs, own their steed and are responsible for their training and transportation. Their ages range from 20 to 70-something and the horses they ride come from a variety of breeds.

The group started 20 years ago and has been covering the fair and rodeo for at least just as long.

The 50-year-old Alexander, an operations and accounts manager for a chemical company, joined in 2012 and took the helm in 2019. She has been horse riding since she was 15.

Completing her Mount Posse duties this year, Alexander debuted Casanova, a 17-year-old black and white male Tennessee Walking Horse she rescued a week away from being sent to an international slaughterhouse.

Her other horse at the event is Glo, a 23-year-old palomino and white male American Paint Horse in his second year doing fair and rodeo duties.

Alexander said the Mounted Posse prides itself in the horses being potty-trained.

“We trained them just as you do a puppy,” she said, pointing to a method involving treats and wooded areas.

The Mounted Posse participates in a slate of other community events in the county, including the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival and Magnolia’s Woodland Oaks Mardi Gras Parade.

Every holiday season through Precinct 2’s Operation Ho Ho Ho, the Mounted Posse is deployed to the Target parking lot off Texas 105 and Interstate 45 to help with patrolling efforts there. They have also aided in search and rescue efforts during flooding, according to Pct. 2 Constable Reserve Lt. Mike Cross.

“They’re great men and women,” Cross said of the Mounted Posse. “I’ve not met a more dedicated group to helping law enforcement.”

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

twitter.com/jrgzztx

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