Ex-police horse Monty hangs up his boots at HorseWorld

A horse that has dedicated his life to the police service has hung up his boots to enjoy a well-earned retirement at HorseWorld, in Bristol.

Monty, a 17-year-old Shire-cross gelding, who was named in honour of his force’s late farrier Monty Balls, arrived at his new home on 3 November.

Monty patrolled the streets of Avon and Somerset for 11 years, fighting crime and taking part in important duties such as the Lord Mayor’s parade, the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles and Glastonbury Festival.

“There’s no doubt I’ll miss Monty, but at least he’s retiring just up the road, so I’ll be visiting him regularly,” said his rider PC Gary Young, who together with Monty’s groom, Natalie Simmons, presented a cheque for £600 to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing centre in Whitchurch to help with their work.

Jerry Watkins, HorseWorld’s welfare manager, said: “Despite now focusing most of our resources on welfare cases, HorseWorld was originally set up in 1952 to take in retired working horses, so we are delighted to be able to accept a hard working police horse like Monty.”

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