Sending my horse to the mounted police - good or bad?

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kmf3009

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Hi,
My horse has been up for sale for about a month now and I just had a call from a lady from south wales mounted police who are interested.
It would involve a month or so for a trial and an agreement would be drawn up between us about it etc. Just concerned that is he is not suitable he will come back a totally different and possibly unsellabe (for a while)....

Has anyone sent their horse to the mounted police? Does anyone have and good/bad stories? Any advice?... please?
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A friend of mine loaned her horse to West york mounted police. They looked after him superbly, until he became unfit for duty because of a crowd of football yobs at Leeds Stadium!!!!

He is now in the Lake District, have a happy retirement, having been found a good home by the police.

Not sure why you think he would come back ucha changed/unsellable?????
 
I had a friend with 16'3-17h which was offered to manchester mounted police I think. She didn't go in the end but I recall they asked for every scrap of history on the animal and sent their own vet to do a thorough ride, fitness & health check, they turned her down but friend wasn't so disapointed, good that they came & were so thorough.
 
Thank you for your reply.. I don't know really just a fear I suppose of the unknown. I guess either way he will have learnt stuff and could come back a bolder, braver horse. I know they look after them very well... and I think he would make a super dooper police horse. I suppose that as I am trying to sell him, if he did come back I wouldn't want all my work to have been "undone" in anyway, but I suppose that wouldnt happen...
Its a big thing to do and want to make sure I am 100% certain that I want to do it...
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I can understand your views but i would imgine he will be getting the best in training(and probably treated like a king as money isnt an issue),which surely if he is unsuitable for the job in hand the training itself can only be of a huge benefit to him
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My mum and dad sold a horse to the police.. It was a long time ago though.

I think it would be a good place for a horse to go!! They would be incredibly well looked after.

It would be a worry about the trial, but only the same as any other trail, probably less risky!

You could let them come and look and see what you think of them.
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Thank you for all your positive comments. Its just apprehention of the unkown more than anything. Wales is a long long way from me! And I suppose i probably have a better horse in some aspects if he came back which is a bouns, plus wouldn't have to pay livery for a month or so
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Do you think he would make a good police horse? Does he have the right temperament, do you think he could cope with being in 24/7 unless on duty? Does he have good conformation and strong legs because it's all road work?
(I know Manchester police don't turn their horses out although not sure about other regions?)
Tough decision!!!
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I work for the mounted police, and my job is too look after the horses.
All i can say is they are looked after so well they have massive clean beds, fed well, exercised everyday, have very very good training and money is no issue so they tend to have the best of everything.
I dont work for south wales, but i think most forces are the same.
The only thing i will say is usually they have to pass a 5 stage vetting, before they will take them.
Good luck and let us know how you get on
 
Hi Big Bug
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I am in Kent so I suppose its not that far away. I am not her would pass a 5 stage now as he has a tie-back op and Hobday op about 3 years ago. He is fit and healthy now and there are no after effects - no noise and he can go for a good gallop! I am not sure if they would want him then?? Nothing wrong with him. The lady did say about them living in but they are getting some paddocks shortly but turnout would be limited. He doesnt mind living in, his legs do fill a bit but thats a common thing - they go down with 2 mins of walking.

I think he would suit him, he is a sensible bold chap who learns quickly and trys hard. Got extreemly good feet and srtong legs, he is a KWPN (dutch warmblood) so middleweight type. Its a tough decision to make...
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You never know with the 5 stage vettings hun, he might pass and he might not, they are so strict.
I know most forces do have turnout, but it is limited but they do get out now and again, but if police horses arent on patrol, they will be lunged, ridden in the school by the grooms or go on the horse walker.
They will never stay in the stable and do nothing.
Have a look on south wales website on the mounted section and they will tell you about there mounted section and give you a insight into wat goes on there.
Let us know what u deside, but i know i would defo sell my horse to the police they have a life riley.
 
Ah thanks for your words of encouragement
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I do think he would love it and it would be nice to think he is having a great time. I will see what Sharon thinks about the pics and go from there, maybe get her to talk me through the training and stuff a bit more.
Yeah i will post what I decide to do in the next few days and check out their website, thank you
 
I have to say, although the money they recieve is extremely limited. The police force's Mounted Branch is one of the most appreciated and used tool the police have available. They take great care in all there animals, and there stables are spacious. When the police retire animals or sell them on, they never fully sell as such, this is because one officer noticed an old police horse up on the moors. Where it shouldnt of been, now Police have the right to take back any of there horses at any time.

I got this info from Ember Court Police Station. (Mounted branch)
 
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What is the criteria for a police horse ? After Reading this post I quite fancy my mare as a police horse, I think she would be great , shes bold and sturdy !!!

xx

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Usually (because it does change abit with different forces )
between 3-10 yrs
16.1-18.3
Quiet type
Good on the roads
Bold
Good temperment
Mares or geldings

They will come to your yard,ride the horse and see if they think it is suitable to be a police horse, they will have a 5 stage vetting, and if they pass then they will usually be taken on a months trial where they will be schooled and do training with nuisances (bags, walking on things, flags,noise etc) and then after doing that they will decide whether they are goin to keep the horse.
But at any stage, they think the horse isnt liking the job they wont make it do something it doesnt want to, they will just send it back to you.
 
I think my girl is a bit small then she is only 15.2hh , But I could really have seen her , she would certainly look good !!!

I hope it goes well for your horse then I think it would be a lovely home for him , where he has a great purpose and is well looked after . xx
 
Try to catch the TV documentary series Mounted Branch. It's shown on Animal Planet - repeated a lot so you should be able to catch it at some point. It follows the GMP Mounted Branch and gives a great insight to the life of police horses. Have to say they all look very happy and healthy if the program is anything to go by and extremely well looked after. Despite lack of turnout they do get to lead interesting lives - certainly get to see things that other horses never would.
 
I sold a big fella my (now) ex had to the police - stabled in Surrey but often on duty in London.

They called first, came to see him, had him vetted and he went on trial (can't remember how long for now, was about 10 years ago - or maybe a bit more - year before Diana died).

They bought him, and we had a few updates about how well he was doing - they compete them as well.

He was 6yo, big steady horse but with a bit about him to look at, 17hh black shire called Freddie Spencer.

Lovely horse, I'd sell to them again if I had the right sort.
 
I think they do have to be v v good to pass the initial tests. A Friend of mine sold one of her horses to the police and she was just ideal for it. I think the care would be second to none and also as far as I am aware you're pretty much guaranteed they would have a secure retirement afterwards.

I would certainly see it as an option if I were you. Good luck!
 
I have to buck the trend here and say it depends on the force.
I taught a policewoman to ride (novice level) and she joined the mounted police, then brought two police horses to visit us at the yard.
I rode them both, and their schooling was terrible - they had no canter aids (seriously) - they were asked for it by the rider bawling 'CANTER!' at them. They were also very spooky, wouldn't go through the (normal) doors to the indoor school.
I knew the same force bought a lovely ID x from a fellow livery, she became terrified of traffic whilst with them (despite being bombproof before) and was sold on, luckily to a good home.
I think it depends very much on the force involved - the one I am talking about wasn't in Wales, though!
B
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Sounds like an excellent opportunity to me if you think your horse would suit the job!

When I was selling my old 17.1hh warmblood who had SERIOUS mental problems and would bolt for no reason, a policeman rang me up asking about Ice - I just laughed down the phone for several minutes - I'd been brutally honest in my ad about all Ice's problems and the reason the guy rang me? Cos the horse was big! So I knew Ice would most definitely NOT be a suitable police horse, he'd have killed poeple. But if you think yours would be right for it then I can't see the harm in a months trial!
 
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