Koko is going to Washington DC

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Koko

Seven years ago, a friend picked out a Mustang colt from the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota and he was delivered to her home at six months old.  I was looking for another horse and always wanted to raise/train a young colt from the ground up so I purchased him.  I call him KoKo, short for Kokopelli, because he has a white blaze that’s looks like a Kokopelli, a Native American figure. 

Six years later and after a lot of patience, sweat, and tears, KoKo and I are doing more things together I never thought we would.   Last year I joined the Weld County Sheriff’s Posse as a volunteer because I wanted to learn law enforcement mounted patrol techniques and help when needed for missing people and animals.  We also work at the annual Greeley Stampede for crowd control and public relations.  We ride in parades and sometimes used at crime scenes.  The training I have received with the posse is unimaginable.  Our horses are put in situations that are out of the normal and our horsemanship skills are tested at the highest level. 

Weld County Sheriff’s office in 2011 lost one of their deputies in the line of duty.  Seven members of the Weld County Sheriff’s Posse paid their own way to Washington DC for National Police Week to honor their friend/comrade and the other law enforcement officers who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities.  While there, they were in contact with the National Parks Mounted Police unit and other mounted units from other agencies from the Eastern United States.  They were encouraged to bring their horses to participate in the various ceremonies that take place during police week.  KoKo and I are one of the 15 units selected to go to Washington DC.  We will be carrying mementoes of all fallen Colorado officers to be placed at the memorial wall.  This is a great honor and we would be the first Western Mounted Law Enforcement unit to attend this event. 

Posse members use their own horses and equipment, in addition, will be paying their own way for this trip.  The total cost for each rider and horse is estimated to be around $3,500.  A website has been established with information on the trip and how to donate at: http://wcsoposse-inhonorofourbest.org/Home_Page.html.