THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604100089
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
It's time to saddle up the horses and head Downtown.
The Olde Towne Portsmouth Ride is scheduled for May 5, noon to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Mounted Patrol, the horseback ride will benefit the Portsmouth Police Department's patrol.
Civilian riders will pay $25 to join police riders from Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Richmond, Roanoke and Raleigh on a trek that will take them along the waterfront from the Naval Shipyard to Hospital Point and back.
Raising outside money is an important factor in keeping Portsmouth police in the saddle.
``We buy things like winter gear for the riders, things the city can't do,'' Friends president Alan Gollihue said. ``We are going to pay for two officers and their groom to go to Lexington for special training in May.''
In addition, Friends volunteer to work around the stables down at the old Coast Guard base.
``Some people have a lot of horse experience, and we could use some of them in our volunteer group,'' Gollihue said.
From time to time, ever since the mounted patrol was formed in 1987, the city has threatened to cut the horses from the budget.
It's ironic that we talk all the time about image, but over the years, when time comes to cut the budget, things like the horses seem to be at the top of the list.
The horses are one of the most effective image-builders the city has. They make people feel safe at the downtown festivals. In addition, the kids and their parents love the horses. And we have been blessed with riding police officers who seem to love the public.
But image isn't everything.
Back when there were four police officers riding instead of the two we have now, the horses were used to chase down law-breakers, and there were positive stories about their successes.
I remember from some years ago the comforting sound of the hooves clopping on the pavement around our office on summer nights.
Gollihue, a former police official, said he would like to see the horses used more in other parts of town. For instance, the horses could be used at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) at Churchland High School.
``It would be wonderful to have them around the parking lot during the tournament,'' Gollihue said.
Or maybe we could use the horses at City Park on Saturdays when there are no special events Downtown.
But the important thing right now is the Olde Towne Portsmouth Ride, an event that not only will raise a little money for the mounted patrol but also will create a great event.
The Friends will sell carrots and apples on the street for spectators who want to feed the horses, and they'll sell T-shirts, too.
As the late Loretta Larcomb once told me, every little bit helps. Larcomb was a great fan of the mounted patrol and gave a lot of volunteer hours to the cause.
Carol Consolvo, one of the mounted police officers, said some of Virginia Beach's 14 horses will be here along with the groups from Roanoke, Richmond, Raleigh and the U.S. Park Police.
Carol and her colleagues have taken Portsmouth horses to participate in rides in Virginia Beach and Richmond.
``Last year the Virginia Beach horses couldn't be here for our first ride because it was the same day as the Chesapeake Jubilee and they were committed to be there,'' she said. ``This year we made sure there was no conflict.''
The horses will gather down on First Street near the stables and ride to the Naval Shipyard. Then they'll ride the Seawall from City Hall to Portside, take off from there to ride around Crawford Bay and over to the Naval Hospital, where they'll ride around Hospital Point. From the hospital, the horses will take Court Street to the 1846 Courthouse and High Street.
The route is a safe and pleasant one for riders. For citizens, it's a fun way to make a $25 contribution to the future of horses on our streets.
Deadline for entry is May 3. Checks should be mailed to Cathy Bunn, 202 North St., Portsmouth, Va. 23704. by CNB