Ready for duty
An Appaloosa takes the L.A.P.D. mounted unity to color.
Police horses are traditional. They’re a part of police departments across the country, patrolling the streets of numerous cities. You’ll see them in sorrel or bay, a traditional color that’s easy to conform to. But the Los Angeles Police Department shook the status quo when they purchased 8-year-old gelding Destiny Seabreeze.
The Appaloosa became part of the department in April 2008, and quickly adapted to his new way of life. Bred by Doug Danner of Solano Beach, California, “Destiny” had impressed his breeder right from the beginning. “When he foaled, he had black and white striped legs,” Doug recalls. “I named him Destiny because I felt he was so striking he was destined to do something.”
Destiny earned registers of merit in halter and most colorful at halter; then was trained for reining by Yvon Mathieu. He earned a register of merit in reining, and attended the 2007 Appaloosa World Championship to compete in master’s non-pro reining with Doug. When L.A.P.D. Officer Donny Anderson visited the barn, he couldn’t have been more impressed with the laid-back gelding.
“We impressed him,” Doug says. “You don’t need reins with him; he goes with leg control. Donny took him down the street and continued to be impressed.”
Initial evaluation
Donny evaluates, purchases and assists in training horses for the unit, and had scheduled a trip to Solano Beach to look at a different horse. Upon arrival Donny knew the horse wasn’t what he was looking for—and then the owner mentioned Destiny. Since he was an hour and 45 minutes from L.A., Donny decided to take a look.
“He was sizing me up as I looked at him,” Donny remembers. “I went through my checklist, and he was just a champ. He was butter soft. I got on his back, and I just fell in love.” Donny took a chance and asked to take Destiny out on the street, a rare occurrence in his initial evaluation.
A tractor-trailer drove by with loose cargo when they were out, making all the noise a big rig can. Destiny was practically sleeping. “I turned him back,” Donny says. “You can only ask them to do so much…Against traffic, he was just falling asleep. Obviously he wasn’t trained to be desensitized, he was born that way.”
So Donny loaded Destiny with a pre-purchase contract and was off. Training commenced the next day and Destiny passed with flying colors. He was a near-perfect example of what Donny wants in a police horse: He was over 4 years old; his conformation was correct; his demeanor calm.