A real gentleman who served with delight: heartbroken farewell to courageous police horse


  • South Yorkshire Police has paid tribute to a “cheeky chap”, a “light soul” and a much-loved member of the mounted department, who has died after 13 years’ service.

    Police Horse Brinsworth, an 18-year-old “Yorkshire lad”, was approaching retirement however needed to be put down owing to colic.



    “Our animals are a part of the policing household,” a spokesman for the power stated. “They’re far more than working service animals, they’re cherished past measure by officers and employees; their loss is felt throughout the power. It’s with a heavy coronary heart that we share the information that our much-loved PH Brinsworth has died.”

    PH Brinsworth, Billy within the secure, joined the department at Ring Farm in 2009.

    “Billy, born a Yorkshire lad, caught the eye of our workforce as a three-year-old, and as soon as he had matured, he joined the workforce aged 5,” the spokesman stated.

    “In his 13-year service, Billy attended the 2012 London Olympics, even assembly David Beckham! And extra not too long ago, he attended the the G8 Summit in Glasgow. He has travelled the nation as far north as south, offering mutual support to different forces, and has at all times finished so impeccably mannered, in true gentleman model.

    “The closest bonds are these together with your colleagues and belief between horse and rider when coping with difficult conditions is paramount, however everybody knew they may depend on Billy. Billy was fearless, until confronted by a white plastic bag, by which case it was each horse and rider for themselves!”

    Billy was at all times the one to assist educate new riders, however the spokesman stated he had “a number of tips up his sleeve to maintain the skilled riders on their toes”.

    He had been the allotted trip of Sergeant Collette Pitcher since she joined the workforce final October.

    ““Billy was a cheeky chappy who was cherished by everybody within the workforce; everybody has a narrative about Billy,” she stated.

    “We face tough conditions as mounted officers, however whenever you wanted him, Billy was there, he did all the things that was ever requested of him, a very courageous, dependable police horse.

    “After I began with the workforce, I had little using expertise. Throughout my intense course I fell from Billy into the fence, I initially didn’t need to get again on him, however ultimately his charming methods and character received me spherical and I fell in love with him.

    “He was a delicate soul however equally put riders by their paces, instructing resilience and respect. He can be missed.”

    Billy turned in poor health final week with impaction colic. He was taken to Rainbow Equine Hospital for surgical procedure however then it emerged he had issues, and pneumonia, and “the heart-breaking resolution was made to place him to sleep”, the spokesman stated.

    “Billy was almost prepared for retirement,” Sgt Pitcher stated. “We like to see our horses get pleasure from their last years munching grass and having fun with the solar on their backs, however we take consolation in realizing Billy lived to serve his communities, he cherished his job and carried out his duties with delight.”

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