SYP pays tribute to 'perfect in every way' police horse
South Yorkshire Police’s mounted unit said a sad farewell to “perfect in every way” Police Horse Hoober this week.
The 15-year-old horse, which joined the service in September 2011, was found to have a tumour in his small intestine. Despite emergency surgery, he had to be put down by the vets on November 30.
PH Hoober was happy to be ridden by all officers in the force’s Operational Support Unit, and Police Constable Lindsay Crew spoke of how much he will be missed due to his loveable nature.
“He could turn out to every occasion,” she said. “It was because of his lovely manners. He could be used at the football, at protests, at ceremonial events and as mutual aid for other forces.
“He was an absolute soldier and did his job perfectly, in fact he was perfect in every way. He wasn’t scared of anything and as well as bringing on other young horses he helped bring on inexperienced officers who joined the unit too.”
Highlights of his long career included working on three legs of the Olympic torch relay and travelling to London in 2012 for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He was a veteran of Doncaster St Ledger meetings, worked at many protests and spent a lot of time on mutual aid in the North East around Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
“He was characterful, cheeky and very good with all the grooms and officers,” said PC Crew. “He was definitely the escape artist of the stables. He was the Houdini of all horses and he could open any door.”
