Student  police cadet hopefuls from the Hodayot Boarding School in the Galilee took part in a training exercise with mounted police officers Sunday, as part of their scenario-based training, including crowd control and dispersal techniques.

Hodayot Boarding School principle Eli Shtein explained that firsthand experience in the field was a crucial element of his students' preparations to joining the force.

"The joint exercise is that direct result of closer coordination between the mounted police unit, Yasam (special riot police unit) and the students of Hodayot's police force track," he said, adding that his students emerged even more inspired and excited to enroll in the force.

"The exercises are based on real life scenarios, and our students took a full and active part" on both sides - acting as "rioters" and as police auxiliaries taking control of the situation.

The Israel Police's mounted officers are a crucial part of the police force's riot control tools, with officers on horseback able to cover terrain impossible to traverse in a vehicle, and far faster and more safely than on foot.

They have also played a part in Israel's beefed up security measures amid an ongoing wave of Arab terrorism. Last month, mounted police officers shot dead a knife-wielding terrorist in Jerusalem, thwarting a potentially deadly attack.