When Mardi Gras revelers inundate downtown thoroughfares, Mobile's mounted police unit brings out the thoroughbreds. A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and in Mobile he is part of the force. Each winter, as vibrant floats, marching bands and excited crowds come rolling through town, Mobile's mounted police keep peace in the streets. It is one of the top teams of its kind in the nation. Sgt. Eddie Carr, who has been in charge of the unit for 18 years, explains the value of his seven-man team. "One officer on a horse has the same effect of 20 officers on the ground. People will respect a horse and move for it. It's like parting the Red Sea." A volunteer auxiliary, known as the "half police," also assists the seven sworn officers during special events. The group attends monthly instructional sessions at the police barn to learn the methods of law enforcement. The most rigorous training, though, is that of the four-legged force. By instinct, horses are flight animals, so they naturally run from unfamiliar scents or loud noises. It takes quite a bit of conditioning to acclimate the animals to things like bellowing tubas, screaming children and flying MoonPies. Each horse has its own particular quirks that its handler knows to avoid while on patrol. For example, one mount hates the vendor trinket carts, and another is terrified of Azalea Trail Maids. During training, riders attempt to desensitize the horses and build a trusting friendship with the animal at the same time. It is not surprising that the horse force is known as the friendliest of cops. "After all," says officer Billy Dunn, "how many folks come up to a policeman in a squad car and ask if they can pet his vehicle?" Image information: Main: Officer John Lowry, better known as "Tall John," takes his horse, Gator, on patrol around the park. Lowry joined the mounted unit with no riding experience. Left: bottom Officers Jacob Grissom, Lowry and Kim Turner begin their patrol in downtown Mobile. Grissom is riding one of the squad's backup horses, Nickles Prospect. Nick is a 15-year-old thoroughbred whose former racing career in Louisiana included four big wins. Center: It takes quite the barn to house the horses. The Virginia Street stable facility and the unit's training grounds are the site of many National Mounted Police Training Certification Schools. Each year, these schools attract hundreds of officers from around the country. Maximus Max chats with Lil' Joe, a miniature horse who loves to mingle with young visitors at the barn. Max is a Belgian draft horse and a gentle giant. Right: An auxiliary member negotiates her beautiful Arabian through the "car wash," one of the many obstacles used to prepare horses for Mardi Gras celebrations. Photos by Foncie Bullard.