Steelers G Ramon Foster Donates $9,500 for Horse to Pittsburgh Police Mounted Unit

Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster has donated a $9,500 for the purchase of a horse to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s mounted patrol unit.

The horse, named Toby, will join the unit that works special events downtown and also helps the force with community outreach. Mounted unit can provide useful for crowd control and give officers the ability to look out above crowds at large events.

Foster is the third player to make such a donation to the department. Center Maurkice and defensive end Stephon Tuitt have also donated horses. The unit got re-started in 2017 after being closed due to budget cuts in 2003. The unit now has eight horses.

“As I said a couple years ago, when we first started the mounted unit, it would be a minimal cost to the city because we thought we’d be able to get donations,” Pittsburgh Public Safety director Wendell Hissrich said to reporters. “We had hoped for six horses and we’re up to eight. We’re very appreciative that every horse we have has been donated.”

Toby, a Black Forest Horse, will have to undergo mounted patrol training before he can join the force for deployment.