Straight Arrow Products, Inc. is based in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. The region is also home to the Bethlehem Mounted Police, one of few mounted police units in the United States.
Straight Arrow works with the Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit through various charity activities and are proud to provide the horses with products that keep them clean, safe, and happy on the job. The Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit is a non-profit organization relying on the love of their community and sponsors while committing themselves to keeping the city safe and spreading joy with their respect, duty, and love of horses.
We wanted to share a few fun facts to help everyone understand The Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit and all they do for us and the community!
1. There are four horses in active duty; The Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit is made up of Grey, Casper, Seamus, and the newest member, Star of Bethlehem. Shout out to our retired equine officers: Pharoah, George, Mason, and Asa. You can find out more about their individual personalities here.
2. The horses cost upwards of $12,000 per year. They require extensive desensitization training, routine farrier & veterinary visits, specialized diets, and of course – grooming products! The Bethlehem Mounted Police have a strict policy that the horses must look their best when patrolling the streets.
3. They moved into a new stable in 2017 where they have volunteers alongside the officers that care for the horses, host educational events, and serve as a pillar of their community.
The $500,000 equestrian sanctuary overseen by a Board of Directors hosts the horses and boasts oversized stalls with turnouts as these horses are all draft or draft crosses. The larger breed requires more space while access to turn-out gives them more space for interaction, exercise, and mood-boosting. The facility also has offices, storage, an outdoor arena, a round-pen, and wash stall with hot/cold water hoses to ensure year-round comfort during bathing and grooming routines.
4. They routinely patrol the streets of Bethlehem and can be seen downtown mingling with residents and tourists on an almost daily basis. Bethlehem hosts a plethora of events which keeps the police unit very busy year-round.
5. The Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit does depend on the kind donations from the community. They even have the option to “Adopt-A-Horse!” Another way to help them raise money is to shop their "Clip Clop Shop" or purchase their curated coffee blends (trust us, it’s delicious.)
Now that you know a little bit more about the wonderful horses, watch one of our recent videos with them below.
https://www.facebook.com/BethlehemMountedPolice/videos/10156309224335275/
Thank you to the Bethlehem Mounted Police Unit!
Want your horse to shine like the Bethlehem Mounted Police Horses?
Here is a list from our officers of a few of their go-to grooming products:
1. Ultimate Gloss Shampoo and Conditioner
- Keeps the dust and dander off the horses while prolonging shine for multiple day shifts. They rely on Ultimate Gloss heavily in the winter because even with warm water in their wash stall, below-freezing temps can make bathing multiple days difficult on the officers and their equine partners.
2. Equine Conditioning Detangler
- The police horses are mostly draft or draft crosses that boast thick manes and tails so it’s near impossible to get a brush through them without the help of a detangler.
