A horse in the Inland Empire has gotten a second chance in life after it joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department following an animal abuse rescue.
Maverick, a 9-year-old Andalusian horse, was one of about half a dozen horses that were rescued from a home in Cabazon in 2024. At the time of the rescue, the horses were skin and bone, showing the signs of severe malnourishment.
Maverick also appeared that he had been physically abused as he had cuts to the body as if he got hung up in wire.
His initial owner, accused of animal abuse, surrendered the animals to animal control and went to jail.
Deputy Bryan Hubbard saw Maverick after he was rescued and felt an instant connection with the horse.
“When I first got there, he would lay down and stick his head from the corral to get a flake of grass. That’s how hungry he was,” said Hubbard, a “Top Gun fan” who ended up adopting the horse and named him Maverick.
After several months of nutrition, attention and care, Maverick and the deputy became closer, eventually with the horse allowing Hubbard to jump on and ride.
That was the beginning of the training for Maverick, said Hubbard.
“We just got done a one-week, 40 hour training. It’s for us and the horse to experience the sensory, fireworks and shooting,” he explained.
The pair is now part of the department’s Mounted Enforcement unit, which handles regular patrol, crowd control and special operations.
“I haven’t been on a horse pursuit with him yet. I’m sure he will do well,” Hubbard said optimistically.
While Maverick is still the rookie within the team, he has been able to overcome his biggest challenge: winning over the deputy that gave him a second chance.
“As soon as I leave, he will walk and follow me without the rope like a big puppy dog,” Hubbard explained.
Hubbard said he and Maverick can be seen any day, patrolling all over the country. And as horses tend to retire from the department at age 22, Maverick has a long career ahead of him.