Meet Kairen: The SAPS Mounted Academy’s horse hero

Kairen, a 17-year-old Boerperd mixed breed horse, has been serving the SAPS Mounted Unit in Potchefstroom with distinction.

Kairen was born on 30 October 2006 on the Police farm 25 kilometres outside Potchefstroom. Constable Palesa Mokoatsi has been Kairen’s rider for the past seven years and they get along very well. Kairen works 80 hours a month and this time is used for patrols, searching for stock theft, and missing persons.

The most recent missing person case that Karen worked on was two-year-old Thato Ralisite, discovered Tuesday evening 22 August around 18:00 by a passer-by. Kairen works in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, but can work in the whole of North West province in exceptional circumstances, such as a missing person.

Kairen is an even-tempered, sweet horse, and can work with any rider. When she is not working, her favorite activity is eating, especially green grass. She is picky about snacks, but apples are a favorite.

Kairen and Constable Mokoatsi gets tested every year and receives a certificate that declares them fit for operations. Kairen is not spooked easily. She was trained to remain calm during gunfire, rustling plastic bags, shouting, fires, and sudden movements or sound. Karen gets vaccinated and de-wormed every three months to keep her healthy and in pristine condition

Constable Mokoatsi says, “If your horse is not healthy, you do not have a horse.”

Constable Mokoatsi shares more about Kairen, “In the mornings when I arrive, Kairen puts her head through her stable window to greet me. We always have a little chat. When the horses find green patches of grass or lusern on patrols, Kairen will look for her own green patch so that she does not have to share.”

The public is asked to be patient when coming across horses on patrol. Be cautious, do not honk, and give right of way to the rider. As a pedestrian, do not touch the horse without the permission of the rider. SAPS MAP thanks the public for their cooperation.