By J. Graber
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“Silly” and “goofball” are not adjectives you would normally expect to describe a member of law enforcement.

But those are are the exact words used to to describe Scottsdale Police horse Aiden, who retired this week from the force after 13 years of service.

The 20-year-old Percheron/Thoroughbred crossbreed will continue to use his people skills in his new role as a therapy horse at Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship - a no cost therapeutic center for patients with physical disabilities.

“He’s really our class clown,” said Mary Hadsall said. “He has this thing he does where if someone is looking, he will stick out his tongue two to three inches.”

But don’t take his sticking out his tongue as a sign of disapproval.

“He’s a people person ... a people horse,” Hadsall said.

Many horses will go on munching on their hay if a person comes to their stall, but not Aiden. He will typically stop what he’s doing and come say hello, Hadsall said.

At 18 hands (about six feet tall at the top of the shoulder) and 1,700 pounds, Aiden is a gentle giant - much bigger than the average therapy horse but his personality makes him a perfect fit, Hadsall said.

Aiden was brought to the Scottsdale Police Mounted Unit as a seven-year-old in June 2012. Before becoming a police horse, he was used in hunter/jumper competitions. The Mounted Unit veterinarian recommended Aiden to the police department based on his training, intelligence and athleticism. With his previous experience, Aiden quickly excelled in police training with the Mounted Unit and became a solid member of the herd.

Through his years of service with his police officer partners, Aiden bravely patrolled the Old Town Scottsdale Entertainment District on weekend nights and visited with many community members across the city. He worked at various events in Scottsdale and surrounding cities, including the WM Phoenix Open, Super Bowl events and New Year’s Eve festivities.

He also attended police memorials and other ceremonial events. During his career, Aiden also worked at multiple protests and civil unrest demonstrations across the Valley. He engaged with community members at Mounted Unit education demonstrations, neighborhood block parties, numerous school visits and even walked in several Parada del Sol parades.

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