Golfers Saddle Up to Support the Hemet Sheriff's Mounted Posse

SAN JACINTO — They came with golf clubs, plenty of enthusiasm and a common goal: to support the men and women of the Riverside County Sheriff's Hemet Mounted Posse.

On September 26, golfers from throughout the Valley gathered at Golden Era Golf Course for a fundraiser benefiting the Hemet Troop of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Mounted Posse.

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And while the event was billed as a golf fundraiser, it was really about something much bigger—community.

Mike and Becky Rathbone, along with members and supporters of the Hemet Mounted Posse, helped bring golfers together for a day of friendly competition, camaraderie and fundraising for an organization whose volunteers have devoted countless hours to serving Riverside County.

One golfer summed up the feeling of the day:

"This was a fun event! I like that this is all going toward the Posse. They do so much in the community!"

And that's exactly what the Hemet Posse hopes people will understand.

They're More Than the Riders You See in a Parade

When most people think of a Sheriff's Mounted Posse, they may picture horses moving down the street during a parade.

But there is much more to these volunteers than a saddle and a uniform.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department describes its Mounted Posse as a nonprofit volunteer organization whose members use their personal horses and their training to assist their communities and the Sheriff's Office.

Mounted Posse volunteers can participate in charity events, parade details, patrols, public-relations activities, and search-and-rescue operations. The Sheriff's Department also notes that some volunteers serve as ground support rather than mounted riders.

The department's current policy identifies the Volunteer Mounted Posse as a group of civilian and Sheriff's Office employee volunteers whose objectives include supporting Sheriff's Office operations and promoting community service through positive public relations.

In other words, these volunteers aren't simply along for the ride.

They are there to serve.

A Familiar Face in the Community

The Hemet Mounted Posse has long been a familiar presence at community celebrations and events throughout the San Jacinto Valley and Riverside County.

Mounted volunteers can be called upon for public events, community relations, mounted patrols and search-and-recovery missions. Their horses can also provide a highly visible presence that helps connect the Sheriff's Department with the residents it serves.

That visibility is particularly valuable at community events.

For children, seeing a Sheriff's Posse horse can be an unforgettable experience.

For families, it provides an opportunity to meet volunteers and learn more about the Sheriff's Department.

And for the volunteers themselves, it's another opportunity to give something back.

Mike and Becky Rathbone: Turning Community Support Into Action

The September 26 golf tournament was another example of that community spirit.

Mike and Becky Rathbone were instrumental in helping organize and rally support for the fundraiser at Golden Era Golf Course, bringing golfers together to help raise funds for the Hemet Mounted Posse.

Fundraisers like this are important because the Mounted Posse is a volunteer organization. Members donate their time and, for mounted members, provide and maintain their own horses and equipment.

According to the Sheriff's Department, riding members must own or have reasonable access to an equine in good condition, while ground-support volunteers can also contribute without owning a horse. Members must meet department requirements and undergo the appropriate background and qualification process.

So when community members participate in a fundraiser, they aren't simply supporting another local organization.

They're helping volunteers continue to volunteer.

The Tradition Continues

The Mounted Posse has roots stretching back centuries, when citizens organized to assist their local sheriffs. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department says that volunteerism remains the cornerstone of today's Mounted Posse.

That tradition remains alive today in Riverside County.

The Hemet Troop is part of a larger countywide Volunteer Mounted Posse organization, with volunteers contributing their time, skills and horses to support the Sheriff's Department and local communities.

And on September 26, those volunteers had a little help of their own.

It came from a golf course, a group of golfers and a community that believes in supporting the people who give their time to serve it.

Want to Get Involved?

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Volunteer Forces Unit welcomes community members interested in volunteering. The Mounted Posse includes both riding and ground-support opportunities.

Those interested in volunteering can contact the Sheriff's Department Volunteer Forces Unit at volunteernow@riversidesheriff.org or inquire about opportunities with the Hemet Station.

The Hemet Sheriff's Station serves the Hemet and San Jacinto areas as well as numerous surrounding communities.

For the golfers who gathered at Golden Era on September 26, however, the message was already clear:

Supporting the Posse isn't just about supporting horses.

It's about supporting neighbors who volunteer their time, their skills and their hearts to help their community.

And that's a pretty good reason to hit the links.