Richmond Planning Commission approves proposal for new police equestrian center
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Richmond Planning Commission has approved a proposal for a new police equestrian center near Gillies Creek Park in Richmond's East End.
For years, horses that were part of the Richmond Police Department's mounted unit were kept in a stable along Brook Road, visible beneath the Belvidere Street underpass.
A planning document submitted to the Richmond Urban Design Committee in August described the stable as having "significant operational deficiencies" and "substantial ongoing facility maintenance problems."
The document also cited storms in the early 2000s that left horses trapped due to high water, mud and sewage, and damaged the stable, equipment and vehicles, with conditions only worsening since.
Sergeant Jeremy Nierman, who took over the unit in 2015, riding partner Rio, who retired in 2018. (Photo: City of Richmond)
"The mounted stable has deteriorated to the point where it is no longer an acceptable workspace for employees nor does the building provide a healthy and safe boarding environment for the work animals," the document said.
Following door-to-door meetings with nearby residents back in 2018 and the reception of positive feedback, a proposal for a new stable at 3910 Crestview Road, just across train tracks and the creek from Gillies Creek Park, was approved by the Richmond Planning Commission on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025.
Plans for the new stable include eight stalls, a wash area and a utility closet, an indoor arena, an outdoor training area, as well as a pasture area.
In addition, plans include a two-story office for mounted unit equestrians, a parking area, a shed for equipment and a hay shed.
The mounted unit is reportedly the oldest mounted unit in Virginia, and have patrolled parts of the city as early as 1894.
If the plan moves forward, the project will be funded through donations to the Friends of the Richmond Mounted Squad nonprofit as well as $527,942 allocated for the project in the city's Capital Improvement Plan.
Once pasture areas are cleared, planning documents said the horses will be moved there as construction begins, with completion expected after nine months.
