Avon and Somerset Police officers have waved ‘Au revoir’ to long serving police horse St Michael who is now enjoying a happy retirement in France.
St Michael, known to his former stable mates as Michael, spent 15 years with the force but will spend the rest of his days soaking up the sunshine in the Dordoyne.
Michael will join former Avon and Somerset police horses North Avon, Matthew and Clifton who have also retired to a farm in France owned by the Devon Horse Sanctuary.
Michael, who set sail for France last week, came to Bristol as a four-year-old and during his career showed several officers the ropes. But his longest partnership was with PC Tracey Small.
At 16.2 hands high he was relatively small by police horse standards but throughout his police career was very bold and a real character. He has a distinctive horseshoe scar on his neck given to him by his father who bit him when he was a foal.
Michael was actively involved in the Stokes Croft disorder, Glastonbury Festival, football matches, the Bath and West show and even Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding.
He was also one of a pair of Avon and Somerset horses which attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show to celebrate the Queens Golden Jubilee. Michael was joined by police horses from all the other forces and even stood in for another horse in a side saddle display.
Inspector Andy Roebuck said: “We are always sad to see our faithful police horses retire but Michael has been a wonderful police horse for Avon and Somerset and I know he will be well looked after in France.”
Another police horse has already stepped into Michael’s huge horseshoes and is known around the yard as Brian.
Brian has successfully passed his four week trial and can already be seen out on patrol across Avon and Somerset.
The retirement centre in France was developed in 2010 and also houses horses from the Metropolitan Police.
