Longest serving Met horse retires
23 Jul 09
The Metropolitan Police’s longest serving horse has retired after spending two decades with the force.
Raleigh was involved in daily patrols and policing of almost all major events, including football matches, in the capital during his career.
The 23-year-old horse has also served at ceremonial occasions such as the Changing of the Guard and Trooping the Colour.
After working on the busy streets of London he is now headed for the more quiet and peaceful Kent countryside. At stables in Sevenoaks he will be reunited with his best friend Hector, who retired six years ago.
Rider Pc Bill Hounsome, of the Mounted Branch, said: “He may be a veteran at 23 but he thinks he’s 13. When he's excited he bucks and jumps around, and he's good at tempting people into feeding him apples and other treats.
“It's incredible for a horse to still be so fit and youthful at his age, but he has served an exceptionally long time as a police horse and it’s time for a well deserved rest. I’m very pleased that I’m able to offer him that.”
Most of the horses employed by Britain’s largest force are bought aged five or six and serve for around 15 years.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
http://www.met.police.uk/mountedbranch/index.htm (The Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch)
This story has been viewed 480 times.