Horses, Badges & the Beat: Inside CPS Mounted Patrol with Robin Koltusky

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Sirens, Slammers and Service takes you behind the reins of one of policing’s most unique and powerful units. Nikki is joined by Robin Koltusky, Mounted Patrol Team Lead with the Calgary Police Service and AWIPS Civilian of the Year 2025, for a deep dive into what it really takes to run a modern mounted unit. Robin shares her unconventional path into policing—from a lifetime in horsemanship and entrepreneurship to becoming a civilian subject matter expert within CPS—and how that expertise helped reshape the Mounted Unit’s breeding program, herd assessment, and training standards. We break down the four operational portfolios of Mounted Patrol—frontline patrol, community engagement, search, and public safety support—plus the intense tactical training horses and officers undergo, including desensitization to crowds, noise, footing, and chaos. If you’ve ever wondered how officers and horses are selected, trained, and deployed when it matters most, this episode delivers. 🐎 Curious about other specialized units and behind-the-scenes roles in public safety? Check out our related episodes—and don’t forget to tune in to Nikki every Wednesday on the Thin Line Rock Station for more real talk from the front lines. Blue Line Fitness Testing is a premier law enforcement fitness testing and training center based in Edmonton. Specializing in helping individuals prepare for the physical demands of a career in law enforcement, we offer comprehensive fitness evaluations, specialized training programs, and classes tailored to meet the unique needs of our clients. Support the showWant to support this podcast even more! Make a monthly subscription for only $3 a month here! Interested in becoming a first responder? Reach out to learn more! Email - [email protected] Line Fitness TestingFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluelinefitnesstestingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/bluelinefitnesstesting/LinkedIn - Nikki Cloutier