Once a week, Katie Geddes starts her morning meandering the paths of Grant Park and Zoo Atlanta on a horse belonging to the Atlanta Police Department (APD).
Geddes is a member of Georgia Tech’s club equestrian team and, along with fellow teammates Jennifer Bateman and Alynn Lecznar, was inducted last week as an honorary member of the APD’s mounted patrol. The three women comprise the second group of inductees from Tech’s equestrian team since 2010.
“We go out and ride the horses to keep them in shape and give them exercise when they’re not being used,” said Geddes, a third-year biology major from Canton. The partnership with APD began in 2009 and has been entirely student-driven. The first group of honorary inductees came in 2010 with eight Tech women. Students receive honorary military sabers and badges at a ceremony with APD officers.
“It’s a great partnership we have. The girls are all really nice and great riders, and we really appreciate them being around,” said Kevin Cabral, an officer with the APD’s mounted patrol unit. Thirteen horses reside in the APD’s barn off Cherokee Avenue, but those not assigned to an officer spend a great deal of time in the barn without the help of Tech’s equestrian team volunteers. Read More......