Mounted police could become a regular feature on Belfast's streets following a week-long trial in the city.
Belfast's Falls Road went back to the future today as two women officers patrolled its streets on horseback.
But while the PSNI was pleased with the public's response to the patrol, there was criticism from the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein.
DUP councillor Jimmy Spratt and Sinn Fein Assembly member Fra McCann both dismissed the patrols as a stunt.
Superintendent Peter Farrar of West Belfast District Command Unit said mounted patrols were part of the normalisation of policing in Northern Ireland.
"Policing in Northern Ireland and indeed west Belfast has changed dramatically over the last four, five years to the point where the public have seen police officers moving away from Land Rovers to using cars and bicycles," he explained.
"High visibility policing has also resulted in our officers patrolling the streets day and daily in yellow jackets and we have also seen the acquisition and use of a PSNI helicopter.
"Mounted police patrols are common around the world and are frequently deployed in hotspot crime areas.
"There are 42 police forces in England, Scotland and Wales - 17 of which have mounted patrols.
"In Dublin the Garda Siochana have 16 horses, while the Met in London have 127. They are also used in the United States and Canada.
"We will review the patrols to see if they prevent crime, do they reassure the community, do they build confidence in policing.
"Certainly the feedback today has been positive."