Police Horses, Should they be used?

[AlicksD]

Hi, I'm doing some research for a college project. I was just wandering if you would mind posting your views on Police horses, and whether you think they should be used. The more detail the better!!

Or you could just do the poll, or both

Thank you very much

 

[SSM]

Some of the most effective crowd control the police have, also great PR for them - a neighbour is a mounted police man and says the horses come back rattling with polos!!!!!!!

Won't even comment on the breed that should be used as a standard (scuttles off back to under her rock)

 

[Madam_max]

What Breed is that then?

 

[SSM]

Is there any other breed

DONKEY!

 

[GTs]

I am a firm believer horses like having a job -

 

[equibabe20]

At the retirement home where I work, we get a lot of police horses come to us to retire and they are very well looked after and happy when they arrive, and most of them retire about 18/19 so have short working lives. i agree with GTS that they enjoy having a job. Some of them don't cope very well with not having anything to do when they come to us!!!

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I agree with everyone but have had retired ones who dont have a brillant quailty of life, asma etc.

 

[Vicki1986]

i think they should. they are well cared for and have a purpose in life - so many horses stand around in a field ignored, these horses have successful meaningful lives and recieve better care than most in the country.

 

[metalmare]

Well I can't wait to see the Met. police perform with their horses at the Spanish Riding School show! They are jumping through fire and demonstrating the horse's quality and obedience.

 

[harvgj19]

I think Police Horses are great.

Many times OH and I went up to Old Trafford to see ManU play, and there were always a load of police horses there. As someone else said, everyone was trying to feed them polo's!

I think they are a great way of doing crowd control. Being on a horse is more imposing than being on foot for the police officers, and its not like they could do crowd control from a vehicle really.

 

[jinglejoys]

Personally I think they should use mules--that would keep the Yobs Back

Mind you some countries already do!

 

[watcherathome]

They are an expensive resource, having said that they are very effective in crowd control and demonstations.

 

[kick_On]

defo have a role to play..... crowd control.... etc.. as people will respect a group of large horses IMO

 

[Clodagh]

The only time I have seen police horses non plussed was at the Hunting Parliament Square demos, all those hunting horns helped, and the fact that the crowd knew how to make a horse move back, something your average football hooligan probably never needs to know!

I think they should definately be used, wonderful animals.

 

[4whitesocks]

ID ID ID (best police horses!!!)

 

[GTs]

Yeah, around horse people they are less imposing that is certain!!!

 

[kick_On]

i was there, that was amazing, where we were they withdrew them cos riders were 'bricking it', as everyone knew how to deal with horses and tack......

 

[WishfulThinker]

I think they are brilliant!! We went to see Scotland v Faroes and the highlight for me was the MASSIVE polie horses jsut standing there as the rowdy fans streamed past!

I always think Beau would LOVE being a polive horse. If he was an inch higher I would have let him do that.

 

[SarahRoads]

The two I met at Burghley were absolute stunners - the horses that is!

 

[truffles]

Oh definately - Have connections with them and they are all as happy as can be. They get spoiled with polos and their riders are up at 5am buffing their bums till they shine!

Sorry, not particularly helpful lol, but I think they love their job - am yet to meet one that doesn't!

It's also a good way of interacting with a crows - the kids adore them, and people definately know not to mess with a Police Horse - they certianly do look (and are) very tough and magnificant!

 

[YorksG]

In Leeds, where I work, they use them around the roads and in the parks. They are really good at patroling the parks, high profile, public friendly and do little damage to the park land, also increase security for park users as they spend much more time there than vehicles would.

 

[Twiglet]

It brightens up my work day to see a lovely pair of Irish neds walking through the City - beats the usual bores in suits!

I was walking to the station from my office one night and was behind to police horses - heard a tell tale rattle coming from one of them - one very loose and twisted shoe!
Told PC Plod who hopped down and between us we had to remove offending article, after which he had to wait for the police horsebox to come from the other side of London to pick them up!
Very bizarre.