A unit of the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple, the White Horse Mounted Patrol with the Shriners, help children in need of medical care at no cost to the patient.
History of The White Horse Patrol
The normal age of retirement is 65, but the Abu Bekr White Horse Mounted Patrol has passed that milestone and is still going strong. Unique among the 166 equestrian units of the North American Shrine because of its pure white horses, the Sioux City troupe is also the most widely-traveled and celebrated of all horse patrols. Among its triumphs are a Presidential Inaugural Parade, two appearances at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and one in the Cottonbowl Parade at Dallas, Texas, as well as a nationally-televised 11 minute performance of its close order drill at the Shrine East-West All Star Game in San Francisco, California.
But essentially, the Patrol belongs to the communities of Siouxland, to their civic celebrations and fairs, all within one day's drive for the big red and white semi-trailers that transport the horses. A child on the streets of Moville, Iowa, Ponca, Nebraska, or Gayvilel, South Dakota shares the same excitement as a tot on States Street in Chicago or Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington when prancing white chargers pass in review.
Ask any kid, nothing, absolutely nothing on the face of the earth can beat a white horse. How did this organization come to be? How did it surmount the difficulties of establishing a blood line that would produce pure white, pink-skinned horses of nearly uniform size when the skeptics said it couldn't be done? How did it survive the Great Depression when warmth and food were the only concerns of millions upon millions of Americans?
The answer to these questions is the will and devotion of generations of Shriners and their outstanding skills with horses. From those first days in 1920 when a group of Sioux City Stockyards men mounted their personal horses of all breeds, size and conformation to parade until today when their successors do the same, the goals have always been the same: to achieve perfection and to serve mankind by promoting the "World's Greatest Philanthropy," the Shriners Crippled Childrens Hospitals and Burn Institutes.
It was in 1926 that the Patrol learned of a young white Arabian stallion in Greenville, Texas. He was the son of White Racer, one of the all-time great "high school" horses and he was purchased for $1,000, a substantial sum in those days. Brought to Sioux City, he was named Abu Bekr in honor of the local Shrine Temple and was matched with mares of all colors, but mostly black and brown. "Abe", as he was called, proceeded to sire the White Horse Patrol, achieving that unique distinction among horse troupes by 1929. "Old Abe" died in 1946 at the ripe old age of 24, but his lineage extends to this day.
In today's patrol, many of the mounts are offspring or grandchildren of MM. Snow Colonel, a magnificent white stallion owned by Rex Seitzinger of Onawa, Iowa, a longtime Patrol member and past potentate of Abu Bekr Shrine Temple. But the entire nation is a shopping center for potential members of the Patrol. Because of its fame, the Patrol is regularly advised of candidates in far-flung places and they are checked to see if they meet the rigid specifications for membership.
Throughout its history, individuals have had a great influence on the White Horse Patrol. The first captain, an ex-cavalry trooper by the name of Eugene T. Rainey, brought an expert horseman from the cavalry post in Omaha to introduce a drill. Many of the original formations are included in the drill you see today.
Ray Siman, a distinguished livestock commission man at the Sioux City Stockyards, served as captain for 20 years, longer that anyone else in the Patrol's history. He supported the Patrol with his own pocketbook during the Depression when it otherwise would have folded. Ben Novitsky, another commission man, served actively as secretary-treasurer for nearly half a century and today lives on in emeritus status.
Dr. George Pierpont Satter, an Englishman who was the Patrol's first veterinarian and first lieutenant for many years, insisted that as much of the horse as possible be shown, so lightweight English saddles were substituted for the heavy cavalry McClelland saddles in the early 1930's.
The quest for excellence was continued with the introduction of the Wallen family in 1935. Harry Wallen, a skilled horseman, was brought from Independence, Missouri, to become the first regularly-employed trainer. With him were his four sons, whom he had taught the rare art of training horses in circus dressage. The acts that have been a standard of the Patrol's shows for half a century. One of the Wallen siblings, Dick, remained in Sioux City to found a riding stable and has continued his association with the Patrol, rising through the ranks to a term as captain. Dick Wallen directed the Patrol's breeding program in development of the American Saddlebreds and under his appraising eye and expert instruction, the Patrol is the team to beat in Shrine horse competition.
The straight-backed posture, correct grip on the reins, positioning of feet in the stirrups bear witness to expert guidance during long training sessions throughout the warm winter months.
The White Horse Patrol is a self-supporting, non-profit organization within the North American Shrine. Financial support in the nature of horse sponsorship comes from about 145 businesses and individuals mainly in the Sioux City area. Each rider owns and supports his own horse and provides his uniform and all of his tack.
Our purpose, besides the joy of riding, is to make the public more aware of Shriners Hospitals for Children. These facilities are known for world renowned pediatric care and medical research provided at no cost to either the patient or parents. Funding for our hospitals is mostly through generous donations from Mason/Shriners and the general public. If you know of a child that we could serve, please contact us or a Shriner in your area.
The Shrine's charitable arm is the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of twenty-two hospitals in the United States, Mexico and Canada. It was originally formed to treat young victims of polio, but as that disease was controlled, they broadened their scope. They now deal with orthopedic care, burn treatment, cleft lip and palate care and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. All treatment offered at Shriner's Hospitals for Children is offered without any financial obligation to patients and their families, and there is no requirement for religion, race, or relationship to a Shriner. Patients must be under the age of eighteen and treatable.
Our purpose, besides the joy of riding, is to make the public more aware of Shriners Hospitals for Children. These facilities are known for world renowned pediatric care and medical research provided at no cost to either the patient or parents. Funding for our hospitals is mostly through generous donations from Mason/Shriners and the general public. If you know of a child that we could serve, please contact us or a Shriner in your area.
On March 27, 2013, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Twin Cities (SHC-TWI) announced it is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network (MCCN).
Membership Guide
Eligibility:
To participate as a member and a rider in our unit, one must be a member in good standing of a Masonic Lodge and Abu Bekr Shrine.
Membership:
Active rider-
*Shall apply for membership and be approved by the board of directors and a two-third majority of the general membership.
*Shall actively engage in riding, drills and shows.
*Shall have one vote privilege in the election of officers and drill officers.
