Horse welfare charity, The Horse Trust is urging Essex to show their support for Patrick, one of the last Police Horses in Essex. Police Horse Patrick recently retired to The Horse Trust after serving with the Essex Police Mounted Section for 6 years. He is one of the last Essex Police Horses as the Mounted Section has recently been disbanded.
Essex boy Patrick is settling in well to his new life in the country. Patrick, a 16.3hh Czech Warmblood gelding is only 12-years-old but has been retired from his police duties due to arthritis and lameness in his back legs. Sadly the Essex Police Mounted Unit will close in the very near future in order to make cost savings. Patrick is missed by his rider PC Paul Mills who is also now looking ahead to a new challenge in his police career without a horse. Most of Patrick’s fellow police horses will be rehomed to other Police Forces or private homes across the UK. As Patrick can no longer be ridden he was sent to The Horse Trust, a Buckinghamshire-based charity, where he will spend the rest of his days grazing in the Chiltern Hills. The charity provides a dignified retirement for working horses like Patrick who have bravely served their county or community in the Police or Military. Patrick has had a busy and varied career with Essex Police and highlights include policing the London 2012 Olympics, Premiership and Championship football matches, an English Defence League demonstration, the Southend air show and V festival.
