Mounted units are important for public relations, because they are attractive to the public and facilitate communication between police officers and citizens. In situations in which large crowds gather, these units serve the dual purpose of providing public relations figures and aiding in crowd control. Both horses and riders require intensive training before they are placed into service. The horses must be responsive to subtle hand, seat, and leg movements. Many mounted units take part in competitions to determine who has the best and most talented unit. The National Mounted Services Organization of Sparkill, N.Y. is also now available to provide training in both team and individual techniques.