PRINCES RISBOROUGH, England, August 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
Monday marked the last day of duty for two very special Scottish Police horses, Kilsyth and Mull, when they left the mounted unit and trotted off into the horizon to enjoy their retirement, swapping tarmaced roads for the green pastures at The Horse Trust, in the heart of the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160811/397489 )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160811/397490 )
The horses help to unite the best of national policing with the best of community policing to deliver the highest standards possible, keeping people safe assisting with policing the streets in Dundee, helping to deal with anti-social behaviour and policing various events including football matches and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014. And they managed to help lots of officers to pass their riding courses to become mounted officers.
Kilsyth, a 163hh grey gelding, joined the police in 2001 as a 5-year-old and was well known for his huge character and often nicknamed 'Crazy K!'. Grooms that looked after him knew him for drinking straight from a hose on a hot day and also destroying traffic cones whenever possible!
Kilsyth was a huge favourite with all of his riders, latterly Sgt Steinlet was his main rider and could always rely on him to carry out his duties confidently.
Mull, a 17.1hh skewbald gelding joined in 2003 when he was 7. Mull proved himself to be worth his weight in gold and will be fondly remembered by PC Coulter who had a real bond with him. Mull will be remembered mostly for his droopy lips.
Kilsyth and Mull will be joining several other retired Police Horses at their new home including Caesar, who arrived on the same day after retiring from Thames Valley Police.
Kilsyth and Mull will now live out their twilight years in the care and beautiful setting of the Horse Trust as a well earned reward for their many years of service to the people of Scotland. Jeanette Allen, Chief Executive of The Horse Trust said, "We look after equine civil servants who have reached the end of their working lives. It's a bit like the Chelsea Pensioners. Kilsyth was often the lead horse on operations which means he was the bravest of all the police horses."
For 130 years our Home of Rest for Horses has specialised in providing retirement and respite for working horses and ponies. These hard-working equine public servants have served our nation in the Police, the Army or with charities which use horses to help people. We also provide sanctuary to horses, ponies and donkeys who have suffered from cruelty or neglect and who are in desperate need of specialist treatment and care.
It is at our Home of Rest for Horses that we demonstrate best practice and deliver professional training in horse care and welfare. We have invested in funding veterinary research that has led to major advances in horse care. This training and research helps develop the knowledge and skills needed to improve the care, welfare and quality of life of all horses.
For all further press enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Rebecca Metcalfe, Director of Development, The Horse Trust by email rebecca@horsetrust.org.uk or by telephone +44-(0)1494-488464
Share this article