For Immediate release
Horse charity stunned as angry football fan punches police horse in Newcastle on Sunday
The Horse Trust's, a horse welfare charity that specialises in providing retirement for police horses, has issued a statement in response to the terrible incident in Newcastle city centre where a man punched a police horse from the West Yorkshire mounted branch. Newcastle United fans began rioting after their team lost against rivals Sunderland.
West Yorkshire Police, who were assisting Northumbria Police at the weekend, have since issued a statement to say that the horse in question, Bud, was not harmed. The police officer riding Bud, and his colleagues on the ground, acted quickly to arrest the man and prevent further attempts to harm the horse.
Newcastle United also released the following statement on Sunday: ‘We were embarrassed and appalled by the behaviour of a minority of so-called fans who last night were involved in disturbances and disorder in Newcastle city centre after the match'.
It is estimated that in a crowd control situation, a police officer on horseback can do the job of 10 - 15 police officers on foot because of the horse's physical mass and height advantage. These police horses and their riders often risk serious injury to carry out their duties and protect the public. It is difficult to imagine where we would be without these hardworking and fearless creatures and it is devastating to think that some people go out of their way to attempt to harm them.
The Horse Trust's Home of Rest, situated in the rolling Buckinghamshire countryside, provides a home for retired working horses from the military, police and charities that use horses to help unadvantaged and disabled children. They also care for horses, ponies and donkeys who have suffered severe neglect. Pern retired to The Horse Trust in 2012 after working with Northumbria Police Force for 16 years. 17hh Pern has been described as a ‘fantastic police horse' by Sergeant Andy Cross who also reported that Pern ‘thoroughly enjoyed his job and just came alive when he went to work'. A few months later, Pern was joined by his old colleague Big Klyde who was retired from the Cleveland Mounted Branch. Fellow chestnut Big Klyde is famous for being the tallest police horse in the country as he stands at a massive 19hh. Big Klyde and Pern often worked together policing the North East region.
Pern and Klyde join 24 other police horses at The Horse Trust and all are no strangers to the type of scenes witnessed in Newcastle at the weekend. During their long careers, Pern and Klyde helped police football matches and demonstrations as well as Royal visits and other high profile events. Pern and Klyde are greatly missed by their teams at Northumbria and Cleveland, but both have settled in very well at The Horse Trust and are enjoying a well-deserved retirement.
The Horse Trust's Chief Executive, Jeanette Allen said:
‘The behavior of the football fan in this incident was both dangerous and idiotic. However, police horses are specially trained to cope with these kinds of situations and as we know, Bud has been unaffected by his ordeal.
We are proud of our relationship with the mounted police officers who work so hard to protect the public and their property. We are proud and privileged to give police horses a dignified retirement at our home of rest when their working days are over'.
On May 30thour Home of Rest for Horses reopens to visitors. Come along and see Pern, Klyde and the other Police horses enjoying a well earned retirement after their years of public service. They love visitors but if you cannot make it to Buckinghamshire you can show your support for them by leaving a message online on our Police Horse pledge bookwww.horsetrust.org.uk/helping-the-trust/police-horses
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Photography:
- Pern at The Horse - Trusthttp://ow.ly/kb7c5
- Pern in Police Action -http://ow.ly/kb7dG
- Klyde retired to The Horse Trust - http://ow.ly/kb7f4
Notes for Editors
The Horse Trust's, founded in 1886, is the oldest horse charity in the world. Based at Speen, Buckinghamshire, it provides a place of retreat for working horses that have served their country or community and nurtures them throughout their final years. The charity also gives sanctuary to horses, ponies and donkeys that have suffered and need special treatment. The Horse Trust funds non-invasive research that advances knowledge of equine diseases, improving diagnosis and treatment and reducing suffering among equines worldwide. The charity also offers training for professionals and owners, with a focus on equine welfare and quality of life assessment.
The Horse Trust's currently has 26 retired police horses in its herd from police forces across the country. The Horse Trust works closely with the police, both in the retirement of these horses but also by providing training for police officers. The police officers are trained in how to handle horses and how to assess their welfare.
The Horse Trust's depends on the support of the public to look after retired working horses. It costs the charity an average of £12 per day to look after each horse at the sanctuary, which includes the costs of grooms, forage, farriery and veterinary care. To donate to The Horse Trust, please visit www.horsetrust.org.uk, or contact the charity on 01494 488 464 orinfo@horsetrust.org.uk.
The Horse Trust's Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire is currently closed to the public as we are undertaking extensive repair and renovation work. This work includes replacing the 40 year old stable blocks, building a new intensive care unit and equine treatment clinic to help better care for rescued and retired working horses at our Home of Rest. We have also built our first ever sand school and horse walker which will provide therapeutic exercise for our older horses and ponies and be used for backing and training younger rescued horses. The Horse Trust will re-open to visitors on May 30th 2013.
For further information please contact:
The Horse Trust
Catherine Napper
T 01494 540024
M: 07900 905199
E: catherine@horsetrust.org.uk
W www.horsetrust.org.uk
PR Agency
Insight Group Marketing
Mark Robson
T: 0845 643 6181
M: 07785 395 499
W: http://www.insightgroup.co.uk