The first mounted unit of the Polotsk Border Detachment will serve in the Verkhnedvinsk district

April 21, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The preparation of the first horse patrol unit at the Polotsk Border Detachment is almost complete, the detachment's press service informed a BELTA correspondent. The stable is equipped, and the border guards are ready to serve with their new partners: they have undergone special training and learned to ride horses. The servicemen of the "Saveyki" outpost have studied the specifics and veterinary requirements for keeping horses at the Republican Center for Equestrian Sports and Horse Breeding and at the equestrian school operating at the "Osvyeyskoye" agricultural enterprise. It was here that trainers taught the border guards to ride horses for several months. The selection of candidates for the horse patrol unit was meticulous, prioritizing conscripts from rural areas, those with veterinary or zootechnical education, and, of course, a love for horses. Choosing from many breeds, the border guards decided to opt for the Trakehner, also known as a riding and harness horse, or the Belarusian harness horse. Horses of these breeds are hardy, have strong legs, and, importantly, possess a good temperament. It is expected that the horse border guards will begin patrolling the state border in one of the sections of the "Saveyki" outpost near Lake Osvyeyskoye in the Verkhnedvinsk district in the very near future. The decision to revive the tradition of border patrols on horseback was made by the State Border Committee in early 2011. The experiment will last for two years. One outpost from the Grodno Border Group and one from the Polotsk Border Detachment will participate in it. As noted by the State Border Committee, the sections for horse patrols were not chosen by chance. These border territories are home to historical and ecological sites famous among numerous tourists. The Augustow Canal is within the area of responsibility of the Grodno border guards, and the area around Lake Osvyeyskoye, which is part of a specially protected territory, is within the responsibility of the Polotsk Detachment. Service in such protected areas has its peculiarities – the use of technology is not always feasible and justified for the preservation of the environment. Moreover, the sight of a horse border patrol unit seems closer to the pristine nature of the border region. Time and practice will show how horses will adapt to the modern Belarusian border. The experiment will take into account economic feasibility, the specific results of using horse patrols in border protection, and feedback from the servicemen themselves. Maneuverable, well-trained, armed, and equipped horse units are successfully used by border guard services and police in many countries around the world. The Border Service of the FSB of Russia boasts its own cavalry. -0-