Bethlehem, Pa., October 28, 2015— The Moravian College Equestrian Team's gift to the Bethlehem Community has enabled the Bethlehem mounted police to add a new horse to its stable. On Friday, October 30 at 1:30 p.m. a naming ceremony will be held on the lawn near Monocacy Hall to officially name the horse in honor of Moravian College, and to help thank the Equestrian team for their generous donation.

Moravian College Equestrian Team“The equestrian team donated the money because we wanted to support the community. We had some extra fundraising money from our horse show and alumna Marissa Zondag reached out to us and told us about the amazing opportunity,” said Stephanie Dengler ’16, president of the equestrian team.

“The name was chosen to represent the Moravian College,” said Rebecca Zabel ’16, treasurer of the equestrian team. "It will be revealed on Friday."

The Bethlehem Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit was restored in 2009 after a 63-year hiatus. The use of the horses makes it more effective for the police to patrol the woodlands and parks. They also provide an elevated vantage point for the officers to see a greater distance. The horses make it easier to help officers lead emergency vehicles through dense crowds at concerts, keep pathways open during special events and festivals, and keep order on heavily populated streets and fields.

“The horses help the police out a great deal. They are very well trained and they help with large crowd events and maintaining order in our community. They are a unique asset to the Bethlehem area,” said Dengler.

“What sets us apart from other teams is that we are great friends and we do other things outside of just riding. We all have a great bond and I am grateful to be apart of such a great group of people!” said Dengler.

Monocacy Hall is located near the corner of Monocacy and Locust Streets on Moravian Colege's Main Street Campus.

Moravian College is a private coeducational liberal arts college, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For over 270 years, the Moravian College degree has been based on a liberal arts curriculum where literature, history, cultural values and global issues, ethics, and aesthetic expression and the social sciences are infused with multidisciplinary perspectives. Visit www.moravian.edu to learn more about how the Moravian College liberal arts curriculum prepares its students for life-long success.