Horses have been used in law enforcement for centuries. They were the fastest and surest form of transportation. Even after cars became common, many law enforcement agencies continued to use mounted patrols the world over. Mounted police are police who patrol on horseback (equestrians) they continue to serve in both rural and metropolitan areas where their day-to-day function may range from being used for crime prevention in high visibility policing roles, searching for missing persons in remote areas or in the thick of a public disorder riot. They are the ten foot cops.