Latest news with #Clydesdales
CBC
21-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Ottawa police introduce new mounted unit
The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) introduced its new mounted unit Tuesday, touting the horse force as a way to both improve community engagement and meet the practical demands of urban policing. Mounted officers on seven Clydesdales will be deployed across the city over the coming months, Chief Eric Stubbs said during a "soft launch" in front of OPS headquarters on Elgin Street. The unit will be fully operational by 2026. Stubbs said the horses are trained to remain calm in unpredictable environments including noise, large crowds and tight spaces, and said their presence can help de-escalate tense situations. "People react differently when there's an 1,800-pound [816-kilogram] horse in front of them," Stubbs said. "Tempers drop, body language shifts, and it gives our officers a chance to connect rather than confront." In a news release, the OPS said the mounted unit will "respond to a wide range of operational needs, including community patrols, crowd management, and crisis response." Mayor Mark Sutcliffe also attended Tuesday's launch, lauding the mounted unit as both a nod to tradition and a forward-thinking investment in public safety and community outreach. "One mounted officer can have the presence of a dozen on the ground," Sutcliffe said. "That's important during major events and demonstrations when visibility and crowd movement really matter." Sutcliffe said Ottawa's last mounted police unit folded in 1993. Horses needed training Stubbs credited the persistence of Const. Eric Mougeot for reviving the mounted unit. "Eric has had this vision for seven to eight years," Stubbs said. "Because of him, we're here today in terms of that drive and that passion." Idling atop seven-year-old Ripp, Mougeot said horses provide a unique opportunity to connect with the community. "It's the most efficient tool to connect with a citizen. There's no more powerful tool," he said. A police officer for 23 years and a lifelong farmer, Mougeot said he trained with a mounted unit in Toronto for 10 weeks following a longer stint with the RCMP. Staff Sgt. Stephanie Burns, another officer in charge of the mounted unit, said the horses come from all over Ontario and Quebec and had little to no training. "They were pulled out of farmers' field, they were pulled out of backyards," Burns said. "Some of them had never had a person on their back before, so the training process takes a while." Burns said the horses are taught basic manoeuvres before gradually being exposed to large crowds and loud noises including trucks and emergency vehicles. "The more busy the environment the better it is, and the quieter the horses become," Burns said. "We just gradually introduce more stressful environments and eventually the horses take it all in stride." Questions over cost, intent Lauren Shadley, a criminal defence lawyer from Montreal, noted protests are necessary for democracy but can sometimes escalate. "We need non-violent ways to de-escalate," she said. "I'm hoping that the horse unit ... can do that." OPS said the province will supply $1.4 million annually toward the mounted unit, including eight officers and eight horses, for the next three years. Justin Piché, a criminology professor at the University of Ottawa, said he'd like to see a clearer cost breakdown. "When you're spending that kind of money, you should be able to articulate where the money is going," he said. Piché also expressed concern about how the mounted unit will be deployed, especially if it's disproportionately used to control social justice demonstrations. "That's just been the history of policing and their use of protest policing in this city," he said. The seven Clydesdales currently in the OPS stable are Ace, Arran, Angus, Deputy, Rio, Ripp and Will Power, the largest horse at over 18 hands high. An eighth horse will be added. "The horses are stabled within the city and receive daily care from their handlers, including feeding, grooming, medical attention, and exercise," according to the OPS. And yes, they are approachable if you see them out in public.
Ottawa Citizen
21-05-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Police Mounted Unit about to take to the streets
The public can expect to begin seeing police officers on horseback throughout the city after the Ottawa Police Mounted Unit was introduced Tuesday. Article content Article content Officers and horses will continue their training in preparation for full operations, participating in select community events and familiarizing themselves with the city's neighbourhoods and public spaces, the Ottawa Police Service said in a news release. Article content Article content It did not specify how many horses would initially be part of the unit, but said it would continue to expand and 'enhance its capabilities' leading up to becoming fully operational with eight horses and riders by 2026. An Ottawa Citizen story in November 2024 said the police planned to have four horses in service by the spring of 2025 before adding another four the next year. Article content 'This launch of the Unit marks an important step in enhancing public safety and operational efficiency, reflecting the Ottawa Police Service's commitment to improving community engagement and meeting diverse policing needs across the city,' the release read. Article content The mounted unit will allow police to engage with residents, and respond to many different operational needs, including community patrols, crowd management and crisis response, police said. Article content Article content The officers will ride Clydesdales, which were selected for their strength, intelligence and calm demeanour. Article content Article content 'We are excited to introduce this new unit, which will greatly enhance our ability to address a variety of operational challenges, from managing large events to routine patrols,' Ottawa police Chief Eric Stubbs said. 'It's a powerful tool for ensuring public safety while also allowing us to engage with the community in a more visible and approachable way.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
The Courier
17-05-2025
- Climate
- The Courier
All you need to know about Fife Show
Fife Show will kick off a busy summer season of Scottish agricultural events next Saturday. And there's been an increase in entries for all the heavy horse, sheep and cattle sections. The event takes place in the grounds of Kinloss House, near Cupar. Gates will be open to members of the public at 8.30am and the show usually runs until around 5pm. Around 10,000 people have attended each of the past three annual events. Show president David Aglen, farm manager at Balbirnie Home Farms, Cupar told us the weather omens were looking good. Work on the fields started eariler this week and all the main equipment will go in this weekend, he said. He added: 'It's been lovely and sunny, and all the forecasts suggest it will stay dry all next week. 'If the weather does play ball for us, it's sure to be anther great event.' David – now in his second year of a three-year stint as president – said the recent dry spell would help make sure there isn't a quagmire on the day, even if there is any rain. And with farmers having suffered no weather-related disruption to spring chores this year they'll all enjoy the chance to enjoy the show with all the other visitors, he added. Show organiser Elaine Millar told us the heavy and light horse sections had 187 and 321 entries respectively. Cattle classes have 146 entries, with 376 received for sheep. There are two Horse of the Year Show qualifying competitions. There are nine entries for the driven championship and 13 for the ridden event, with competitors coming from across the UK. These classes are open to Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons and Suffolk Punch horses. Showjumping entries are still open but there are also Royal Highland Show qualifiers. Other highlights of this year's event include The Sheep Show and 3SIXTY bike team. The Game Fair Ring will have gundogs, bloodhounds, raptors and the dog show, which can be entered in advance or on the day. Meanwhile, the main ring is the place to see which animal will be crowned champion of champions.. A Young Farmers' tug o' war and Cupar and District Pipe Band will both help to keep the crowds entertained. There will also be parades of livestock and vintage vehicles. The Game Fair area will have numerous activities going on throughout the day, including demonstrations of falconry, ferret racing gun dogs and angling. Elsewhere, family-oriented activities in the Kids Countryside tent, home produce and craft tents, trade stands and an abundance of catering options will keep everyone busy. The show is held just outside Cupar at Kinloss House. The postcode to use is KY15 4PE, then follow the signs. Gates are open to members of the public at 8.30am and the show normally runs until around 5pm, or whenever the last event ends. Admission is free for children under 16, when accompanied by an adult tickets cost £15, including VAT and booking fee, if purchased online. You can buy them at until 6pm on Wednesday. Tickets at the gate on show day cost £20, including VAT. And if you become a member of Fife Agricultural Association, you'll get into the show for free. Yes and it's free. Officials will be there to guide you to a spot just a short walk away from the entrances. If you have a Blue Badge, show it to the parking attendants on your way into the field and you'll be directed to disabled parking near the main entrance. All visitors are welcome but the event takes place in fields, so people must make their own assessment as to how easy it will be for them to navigate there way around. If the weather is wet, conditions may be muddy. There's an accessibility statement available via the Fife Show website. Yes, but make sure you're wearing your show wristband or have your hand stamped in order to avoid having to pay again. Its all there on the A Day at Fife Show section of the website. This has lots of useful information about what's happening and where. Yes, and there's even a dog show to enter them in. But bear in mind the show will get very busy, with people and animals. Make sure you know if your dog is comfortable in this kind of environment. Dogs must be kept on a short lead at all times within the showfields, and owners must clean up after them. Dogs should not be left in cars. Yes, there will be lots of stalls selling all kinds of food, drink and snacks. 'Prepare to go home feeling full,' say the show organisers. Some of the exhibits are in tents but the main ring and most of the action takes place outside, whatever the weather. The official advice is to 'bring your jacket and a pair of wellington boots, and you'll be all set'.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nationwide tour brings Clydesdales to Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The iconic Budweiser Clydesdales made an appearance in Uptown Columbus Wednesday evening. The visit marked a major stop on a nationwide tour celebrating a 15-year partnership between Budweiser and Folds of Honor. Uptown Columbus came to life as the world-famous Clydesdales paraded through Broadway. Beyond the show, the visit served a deeper purpose. Highlighting, the mission of Folds of Honor. The national nonprofit provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of fallen or disabled U.S. service members and first responders. Columbus is just one stop on the Clydesdales' summer-long, cross-country tour. Folds of Honor's speaker's bureau director, Rachel Faulkner Brown, says her family has directly benefited from the 15-year partnership. A partnership that has delivered more than 62,000 scholarships nationwide and more than 4,000 here in Georgia. The horses are part of a larger effort to raise awareness and honor that mission and caring for them takes serious dedication. Clydesdale Handler, Marissa Kaminski said, 'It takes seven handlers and about five hours to get the Clydesdales, ready to perform. They're gentle Giants. The crowds get them going. The louder the crowd is, the more excited the horses are.' The parade began around 5 pm. The route wound through uptown Columbus, culminating in a check presentation of more than twelve thousand dollars to the Folds of Honor. The event included a kid's zone and ticket raffle. Making the event fun for all ages and also reminding the community of the importance of meaningful impact. If you missed the Clydesdales on Wednesday evening, they are expected to make an appearance at Saturday's Columbus Clingstones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Budweiser commercial starring beloved Clydesdales wins USA TODAY Ad Meter
Budweiser commercial starring beloved Clydesdales wins USA TODAY Ad Meter Show Caption Hide Caption Catherine O'Hara, Willem Dafoe dish on pickleball, new Super Bowl ad Catherine O'Hara and Willem Dafoe chat with USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa on the set of their new Super Bowl commercial with Michelob Ultra. In a Super Bowl commercial lineup that leaned into artificial intelligence, nonspecific meditations on divisiveness and the usual smattering of celebrities, Budweiser rose above the chaff with a proven formula. Clydesdales. For the ninth time, Budweiser emerged as the winner of USA TODAY's Ad Meter contest, with viewers voting 'First Delivery,' a tale of a Clydesdale foal proving its mettle, the No. 1 commercial during Sunday's game broadcast. It marks a return to the winner's circle for Budweiser, which claimed its first Ad Meter title in 1999 yet hadn't reached that No. 1 spot in 10 years. And it was a banner year overall for Anheuser-Busch, which led all alcohol products by purchasing 3 ½ minutes of advertising time – at around $7 million per 30 seconds – and saw a payoff in viewer approval. Budweiser edged Lay's 'The Little Farmer,' which finished second on the strength of an authentic backstory of potatoes sourced to domestic farms. Yet it was an InBev flood after that. Michelob Ultra placed third with its 'Ultra Hustle' spot featuring actors Willem Dafoe and Catherine O'Hara as advanced-age pickleball paragons. Stella Artois, with soccer star David Beckham and Matt Damon in a separated-at-birth saga, followed in fourth, while exurban America cul-de-sac bros Peyton Manning, Post Malone and comic Shane Gillis helped Bud Light to an eighth-place finish. But it was the anchor brand that finished above it all, proof that a time-tested visual (horses) and a recognizable brand go a long way on a Super Sunday where consumers are increasingly distracted by second and third screens. 'We hear from our fans that Super Bowl is just not the same without the iconic Clydesdales,' says Dean Norrington, Anheuser-Busch's chief marketing officer. '(Special Delivery) reinforces that we've been delivering since 1876 and will continue for decades to come.' If AdMeter voters are any indication, some dint of authenticity – and an earlier time slot in a game that finished Eagles 40, Chiefs 22 – certainly helped. An Open AI ChatGPT spot finished 54th out of 58 ads slotted from kickoff to the final gun. A Meta x Ray-Ban collab landed in 45th. Only Google, with a voice assistant helping a struggling professional with a cover letter, performed well among voters, ranking 15th. Other spots similarly vexed viewers. Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg, the latter fresh off an appearance at a presidential inaugural ball, mad-dogged each other and yelled hateful epithets, apparently to prove a point about stamping out hate. Coffee mate's first Super Bowl spot ever was oddly conceived, as the protagonist's ability to manipulate his tongue apparently didn't sell fans on the merits of their cold foam product; it placed 56th. Fetch and Tubi, meanwhile, had the misfortune as emerging brands placed in the latter slots of a blowout game, perhaps explaining their positions in the last two spots. The much-anticipated reunion of Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reenacting their iconic diner scene in "When Harry Met Sally" connected sufficiently for Hellmann's, rounding out a top 10 that also featured both NFL ads. Yet at the top was an old reliable. Budweiser sat out the big game altogether in 2021 and didn't solidify its spot for this Super Bowl until the waning weeks of the run-up. And then it was foal steam ahead. 'This is a privilege, that our company and brands get associated with this massive moment in culture,' says Corrington. 'It means a lot, not only to our marketing team but to the 65,000 people in our Anheuser-Busch system that make this the moment it deserves to be in culture in America. 'We don't take that privilege lightly.' The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
