EPSO introduces its equine partners for mounted unit

(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) introduced the horses working with EPSO’s Mounted Unit in 2026.

According to EPSO, the Mounted Unit plays a critical role in patrol operations, search and rescue (people and property) incidents, crowd management, ceremonial functions, and public-facing events. Each horse is selected for temperament, soundness, and proven work ethic, then trained to meet the operational demands of law enforcement service.

New Equine Partners for 2026:

Vader

Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

Black Quarter Horse
10 years old
About 15.2 hands tall
Background: Working cattle ranch

Jack

Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

Red Roan Quarter Horse
13 years old
About 15.1 hands tall
Background: Ranch horse supporting retired soldiers learning how to “cowboy”

Guappo

Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

Paint Quarter Horse/Draft Cross
10 years old
About 16 hands tall
Background: Working cattle ranch

Pete

Courtesy: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office

Flea-bitten Quarter Horse
18 years old
About 15.2 hands tall
Background: Working horse ranch

All Mounted Unit horses have successfully completed EPSO’s Mounted Unit training requirements and have participated in multiple school-based training and familiarization opportunities, ensuring they are prepared for operational deployment and public interaction.

Funding for the purchase of equine partners Guappo and Vader was made possible through a generous donation from God’s Pantry, a non-profit organization located in the Security-Widefield area. The Mounted Unit is also supported through partnerships with community organizations, including the Norris Penrose Foundation.

“The Mounted Unit is both a critical public-safety asset and a living connection to the roots of law enforcement in the American West,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “By investing in our horses, our deputies, and advanced training, we honor our Western heritage, preserve the culture of the Sheriff’s Office, and maintain a modern, deployable mounted capability for patrol operations, crowd management, and high-visibility events. We are grateful to God’s Pantry and the Norris Penrose Foundation for their support and partnership, which allow the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to lead Colorado and the Western states in mounted-unit training, readiness, and professionalism—strengthening public safety for the communities we serve.”