By Monique Noble

Horses have always been part of Canada’s history, helping people traverse vast landscapes, work the land, and support law enforcement across the country. In 1873, the Canadian government established the North-West Mounted Police to bring law and order to the Western territories, curb illegal whiskey trading, and support Canadian sovereignty during westward expansion. In 1920, after merging with the Dominion Police, the force was renamed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). More than 150 years after inception, a smaller, lesser-known group of mounted officers, their horses, and their trainer are still breaking new ground.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) Mounted Patrol Team is an iconic sight in the city. Originally formed in 1910, the unit has undergone periods of change and dormancy but has been a constant source of Calgarian pride since 1979. Like the City of Calgary itself, the CPS mounted unit has expanded and adapted into a commanding yet approachable presence.

The past decade has seen innovative and significant transformation within the CPS Mounted Patrol Team. The drive behind these changes was a far-sighted step in itself: the integration of a civilian subject-matter expert who could provide a wealth of knowledge to specialized units while offering long-term continuity that traditional police rotations often cannot provide.

This expert is Robin Koltusky.

From a young age, Koltusky knew she wanted a career around horses but had no idea where her aspirations would lead. Photo courtesy of Robin Koltusky

A born-and-bred Calgarian and single mother of two boys, Koltusky has always been a horse lover. As a teenager, she shared her first horse with her sisters and realized there was much more to horsemanship than just riding. With a passion for learning and a sense of adventure, she pursued many learning opportunities available in Western Canada.

Koltusky graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Horsemanship and Equine Management Program, followed by advanced training in equine bodywork in British Columbia. Armed with a wealth of knowledge, she spent years in various roles across both English and Western disciplines as a coach, trainer, colt starter, and bodyworker, building a beloved reputation in the Alberta equestrian community.

Working in the horse world while raising young children is no small feat. Koltusky and her well-behaved kids were a familiar presence at boarding facilities in the Calgary area, helping riders and their horses. Serendipitously, while she was thinking about finding work that would be easier to schedule a busy life around, the CPS completed a new barn for the mounted unit and began searching for someone to manage it.

The new facility was designed to modernize and optimize the unit. Housing service horses on site allowed officers who did not have acreages to participate, and horse care and training became more consistent and sustainable. After an extensive search for a barn manager/riding instructor was conducted, Koltusky was selected from over 100 candidates.

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Chosen for her breadth of equine knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit, and approachable but practical demeanour with both people and animals, Koltusky has proven more than equal to the demands of the position.

When hired as the equitation and drill instructor for the CPS Mounted Patrol Team, Koltusky was tasked with assessing and reinvigorating the program. The previous officer overseeing the program had retired four years earlier, and while the unit was still active, it was not progressing. Horses were aging and there was a need for renewed interest — new officers (both two-and four-legged), new duties, and fresh ideas. 

Since joining the CPS in 2016, Robin has rebuilt the formerly largely ceremonial unit from the hooves up into a policing unit that has four distinct operational portfolios — frontline patrol, community engagement, search, and public safety support. Photo courtesy of Robin Koltusky

Koltusky embraced the opportunity. Starting from the hoof up, she assessed the horses in use at the time. While the previous mounted unit was also dedicated to helping preserve the Canadian Horse breed, it was determined that although Canada’s heritage horses are bright, brave, and versatile, a heavier draft cross would be better suited for the demands of active patrol duties. Koltusky’s insightful changes strengthened the unit. With CPS backing the shared vision, her leadership, team building, and rider-mount matching skills started to shine.

Superintendent Matt Baker, who was with the unit from 2021 to 2023, was impressed with Koltusky’s abilities.

“When I was there, Robin was clearly the informal leader of the team,” says Baker. He says it was a small team, which was made up of all sworn members apart from Koltusky. 

“But she was still basically the stable hand really. That needed changing… we needed to recognize her talent and put her in a position where she could progress the unit.

Positive interactions between the public and the mounted unit are one of the unit’s greatest strengths. Calgarians and visitors to the city are always happy to see the mounted unit out and about. Photos courtesy Robin Koltusky

“It was easy to recognize that she was the driving force to progress the unit… any kind of decision that needed to be made, the sworn members were going to Robin. Not necessarily so much the operational perspective, but at the time they were very much ceremonial,” Baker explains.

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“I was able to change her designation, creating a mounted unit supervisor position, and successfully move her into that supervisor position so she was then officially leading the mounted unit, and leading full-time sworn members… which at the time was pretty unique for a civilian. So, that was just opening that door for her, recognizing the talent she has and releasing her to go and do her thing.”

Anyone who has met Koltusky knows that exceeding expectations and excelling under pressure is her thing. The position shift marked a significant milestone. She became the official leader of the unit, managing full-time sworn patrol officers — an uncommon and groundbreaking role for a civilian, and one in which she has flourished.

Patrolling urban landscapes can have some interesting challenges like riding across the elevated bridges and standing on busy streets while issuing tickets. Photo courtesy Robin Koltusky

The mounted unit now operates with a comprehensive training program for horses and humans, which Koltusky has created from the ground up. Her “Strong Rider, Strong Horse” philosophy and program have created solid partnerships between the unit’s horses and riders that extend beyond the saddle into everyday policing, and her efforts are being noticed. 

Saskia Witte, the equestrian foreman for the Montreal mounted police force, met Koltusky at a conference in Ottawa and quickly connected as fellow civilian experts working with mounted law enforcement. “When we met in Ottawa, we didn’t even have to speak much — we just knew,” she says.

“Robin has a horsemanship mentality and philosophy. The first thing is, you have to have good horses. It all starts with good, healthy, happy horses that want to go to work, and that’s what will help you with your officers, because now you can teach the officers to be good riders, have good horse sense, and then when they go out, they’re going to feel safe on those safe horses. That’s when you gain the trust of your riders. And that’s what she’s managed to do… because she has horse sense and she has the well-being of everyone at heart.”

Koltusky’s talent for selecting and developing exceptional police horses has helped mounted officers excel in their training alongside their impeccably groomed equine partners. The horsemanship demonstrated by Calgary’s mounted officers is remarkable as they confidently navigate obstacles that would test any equestrian.

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Frequently patrolling in Calgary’s downtown core, the mounted unit is an active police presence in greenspaces and on CTrain platforms — one of the busiest light rail transit systems in North America. While patrolling the CTrain’s downtown central line, the horses and riders navigate tall platforms, frequently encountering stairs, ramps, elevated bridges, and challenging terrain while also keeping a careful eye on pedestrians and approaching and departing trains. It’s chaotic for a commuter, let alone someone piloting a large animal, and yet the teams operate with remarkable calm and coordination, displaying a deep mutual trust between rider and mount.

A mounted unit’s needs are complex and riding cues that work in one discipline would not work in a policing situation. Cues must be specific, clear, and unquestioned. For example, a horse backing up because of a misread cue during a call would be incredibly dangerous. Photo courtesy Robin Koltusky

During my visit to the mounted unit’s home base in Calgary, it was abundantly clear how well cared for and valued the horses are by their fellow officers. Koltusky has mapped out a structured and individualized equine nutrition and training plan for the horses, which is carefully followed by members of the mounted unit and sworn quarry volunteers. 

Days when the unit is not patrolling are spent training. Shifts start with grooming and tacking, followed by warm-up exercises and scenario-focused practice sessions. 

On the day of our visit, the unit was conducting a joint training exercise with another CPS team. Officers practiced coordinated drills both as a full unit and in pairs, preparing for crowd-control situations requiring precision and composure. The exercise also included smoke-training scenarios designed to help horses and riders remain calm and responsive in environments where smoke or other crowd-control measures may be present.

It was remarkable watching the officer teams navigate not only the flying cannisters but the pop, hiss, and billowing smoke so smoothly. Photo: Starizon Images

Koltusky’s ability to lead horses and people through ever-changing environments was evident as she guided the newest equine recruit through billowing smoke while simultaneously directing new riders into position with a smile, a sense of humour, and an ease that carried through the entire team.

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While casually untacking his partner, Anzio, after the exercise, Constable Travis Westlake, a 17-year veteran with the CPS, remarked on Koltusky’s impact on the unit. “Robin has always been exceptionally good at training horses, training people, and stable management. Her personality and demeanour are very easy to work around and it’s easy to receive and build upon her instruction.” Travis’ two-plus years with the mounted unit have made him well practised and confident around his larger-than-average fellow officer. 

Crowd control is a very important duty of the mounted units. 

Koltusky’s expertise at creating a sense of ease and unity between officers and horses is also helping other Canadian mounted units, as members of her unit prepare to go to Vancouver to help officers practise crowd work with mounted teams during the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in June and July 2026. 

Robin coaches a visiting mounted unit alongside the CPS unit. These training opportunities are crucial for officers both mounted and on the ground as they allow the units to work together effectively in complex situations. Photo courtesy Robin Koltusky

The elevated vantage point of mounted officers provides exceptional visibility, while their unmistakable presence offers reassurance to some and serves as a deterrent to others. For many members of the public, an encounter with the mounted unit is also a memorable experience — a chance for a photo, a positive interaction, and a closer connection with the officers and their horses.

Approachable and friendly, the officers regularly stop to chat with the public and welcome photos when they are not responding to an active call. A recent social media post showing the horses cooling off in the Bow River was widely shared, with many viewing it as a charming behind-the-scenes moment. Beyond the appeal of the image, however, it also reflected an important aspect of the unit’s training, as mounted officers may need to enter the river to assist in emergencies or deploy water rescue equipment to people in distress.

Koltusky’s dedication to helping the mounted unit evolve alongside Calgary’s growing needs is truly inspiring. She brings a deep sense of commitment to her role, her officers, public safety, and the future of the unit itself. Her passion for its potential is unmistakable as she speaks enthusiastically about opportunities to support the Calgary Police Youth Foundation and mentorship programs by inviting youth to the barn to learn about the mounted unit and discover the many ways they can serve their community.

Koltusky’s commitment to building a progressive, modern mounted unit has helped shape Calgary’s mounted patrol into a highly versatile policing resource and a source of strong civic pride. She remains firmly focused on her team, quick to celebrate the accomplishments of her officers rather than her own achievements.

That quiet leadership, combined with her vision, determination, and dedication to pushing the future of mounted policing above and beyond expectations, is exactly what makes Robin Koltusky a true hero within the horse community.

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Main photo courtesy of Robin Koltusky