The State Forest and Park Service's Volunteer Mounted Patrol (VMP) is a unique program that blends the volunteers' love of horses and the parks into one. The VMP pilot program began at Gunpowder Falls State Park in July 1997. It was modeled after the Maryland National Capital Park an Planning Commision's Volunteer Park Police.
In 1998 the program was expanded to include Patapsco Valley State Park. In 1999 it again expanded to include Rocks and Susquehanna State Parks, Fair Hill NRMA, Seneca Creek/Patuxent and the Southern Regional Complex.
Since the VMP are not commissioned as law-enforcement officers, their role in helping the park staff with the management of your public lands is more educational. The VMP's talk to park visitors and inform them of such regulations as keeping dogs leashed and keeping parks trash-free. In most cases, this is all that is needed for compliance.
In the event of more serious violations, the VMP's contact a ranger and may be called as a witness if charges are filed. The VMP's also assist rangers by reporting vandalism, dumping, or other hazardous conditions they may encounter while on patrol. In addition, VMP's also hand out trail maps, advise the public of hazardous conditions, perform minor first aid, and assist rangers as necessary with other assignments.
Each VMP member must first be accepted by the park for the position. Once accepted into the program, the volunteer must commit to a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer service to the park annually. The volunteer then receives 30 hours of classroom training which includes topics such as park rules and regulations, background history of the park to which they are assigned, and CPR/First Aid Training.
After successful completion of classroom training, the prospective VMP and horse have to be evaluated as a team. The rider must demonstrate control of the horse at all times in a series of tasks designed to simulate potential incidents the VMP and horse could be exposed to in the park, including obstacles, samll jumps, gunfire, smoke bombs, flares, and backing up. The horse is required to remain calm and quiet while performing these tasks.
VMP members are easily distinguished from other trail riders by their tan shirts which display the DNR patch, black pants, and white helmets. The VMP program was initiated to provide additional services to the public while freeing up the rangers to handle other assignments, and it has proven to be an excellent partnership between the private citizen and the State Forest and Park Service.
For more information about the Fair Hill NMRA Volunteer Mounted Patrol, call the Fair Hill NRMA office at 410-398-1246.
You can support the VMP Program with a tax deductible contribution.
Make check payable to:
Fair Hill Volunteer Mounted Patrol
300 Tawes Drive
Elkton, MD 21921
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