PUNGO – Rain or shine, the Friends of the Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol will host a beach ride on Sunday, April 19, at Camp Pendleton to raise money to support the patrol.
The event is “BYOH” – meaning horses will not be provided. Registration costs $65 per rider, and it includes the escorted ride, a shirt, and a cookout.
Registration must be made by April 10. Riders and non-riders alike must fill out a liability form. Proceeds from the event directly benefit the patrol, a city policing asset founded due to the group’s efforts three decades ago.
“We raise money for things the officers and things the horses need that aren’t covered by the [city] budget,” said Peggy Nelson, president of the Friends, recently at her store, Coastline Tack on Sandbridge Road.
“We’re there for the horses,” added Jan Yerkes, a member of the group.
“Every cent goes to the mounted patrol,” Nelson said. “One-hundred percent profit.”
“We don’t even buy ourselves a pizza,” Yerkes said.
Past support includes updated saddles or training gear, flashlight pens to make ticket writing easier from horseback, reflectors for the horses, and funding to participate in a competition.
Forms for the ride and more information about the organization are online via www.friendsvbmp.org.
Call Nelson at (757) 353-5550 or email peggyFVBMP@gmail.com about the event or supporting the friends.
The group meets at 6:30 p.m., the second Wednesday of each month, at the police barn, 2089 Indian River Road, in Pungo.
The public is welcome, though membership of the friends is limited to adults.