It’s official – police horses are back in West Midlands Police!

Good afternoon Resident,

For the first time in 26 years, police horses are back in the West Midlands, thanks to an operational decision made by Chief Constable Craig Guildford.

After months of careful planning, specialist advice and trials using other force horses at local football matches over the past two years, our new horses have started patrolling the streets of Solihull.

Belgravia, 8-years-old, a Clydesdale,  ridden by PC Pritchard, and Yvonne, 13-years-old, a Irish Draught, ridden by Sgt Hadley visited parts of Solihull.  

They met with local officers and spoke to people who stopped to take photographs.  

It is the first of many patrols of Solihull.

Our new horses arrived in the West Midlands on Monday (24 November).

After a week of settling into their new home, they are now ready to start official policing duties with riders, Sgt Hadley and PCs Dixey, Masterson, Preece, Pritchard and Smith.

Chief Superintendent Richard Harris, responsible for policing across the whole of Solihull, said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Belgravia and Yvonne to Solihull on their first ever patrol of the town.

“Judging the reception they received from people just minutes into their first patrol, I know that they will be made very welcome.  

“It’s clear to see that these are happy and healthy working animals with a record of policing everything from royal events, protests, major sporting events and crime hotspots.”

The horses will be stabled at our Tally Ho! site in Edgbaston, Birmingham and serve the entire West Midlands - and even other police forces if needed. They will have access to grazing, specialist vets and everything else they need for a happy, healthy working life.

Our recent experience of using horses at football matches has shown that just six police horses can manage crowds that usually take one police support unit equalling over 20 police officers. This means those highly skilled officers can be assigned to other roles, actively preventing and investigating crime or supporting victims.  

More importantly, we have taken learning from other forces and this has helped us to understand that horses are an excellent tool in increasing trust and confidence. They have been used to great effect when supporting victims and witnesses and for getting people to engage and talk to us.    

Police horses are bred for their size, intelligence and gentleness, and trained to remain calm in challenging situations. Their height gives their PC riders the ability to see over crowds, while their size, speed and agility means they can easily move between obstacles and disperse large groups of people quickly.  

In December last year, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published part one of a report on the police's response to last year’s summer of national disorder sparked by mis/disinformation following the killings of three children at a dance class in Southport.  

While there was no disorder in our region, our officers supported other police forces and the paper highlighted the positive role police horses and their riders played in restoring order and called for force's to be better prepared for future violence.  

The creation of WMP's new Mounted Unit means we already have a strong plan and are ahead of any future national recommendations or future disorder.

The unit will have 12 horses ridden by two sergeants and 12 PCs. The running of the stables is managed by an equine manager and police staff grooms, including an apprentice who will earn as they learn to secure a nationally recognised qualification.  

Our new Edgbaston stables will open in spring 2026. Until then, our horses are being housed in temporary accommodation

The horses will be used regularly as part of routine local policing as well as deployed to major events and at weekends in town centres for ultra-high visibility patrols.  

We have worked with other police forces who also have Mounted Units to secure five healthy horses that have the right training and temperament for policing in the busy West Midlands. Nine other horses have been identified and are currently undergoing extensive health checks before moving to the West Midlands.

Six officers have already graduated from an intensive 16-week course in London. Three others are currently undertaking the course and two others are transferring from other police forces, with further roles advertised in the new year.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara, from the Force’s executive team, is leading on the project to return horses to the force. He said: “This is a moment in history for West Midlands Police as we once again welcome horses back into force.  

“We have been working on this project for over a year and the plans have been carefully considered. We are confident that our Mounted Unit will generate income from loaning the horses to other forces and in support of this work, we’re also exploring sponsorship options that could help cover food and other expenses.  

“New jobs for both police officers and police staff have been created as part of the plans – including an apprentice groom.

“We are really grateful for the help and advice from the World Horse Welfare charity, which has helped us to ensure that our working animals will be well cared for, right from the start.  

“The return of horses is great news for the communities we serve as the Mounted Unit will be a massive boost for neighbourhood policing and public engagement.”

About our horses:

Belgravia (female), 8-years-old, bay-coloured, Clydesdale. 17 hands high (1.73m)

Bruce (male), 8-years-old, grey-coloured, Irish Draught. 16.2 hands high (1.65m)

Yonkers (male), 9-years-old, grey-coloured, Irish Draught. 16.2 hands high (1.65m)

Yve (female), 9-years-old, chestnut-coloured, Irish Draught. 16.3 hands high (1.66m)

Yvonne (female), 13-years-old, grey-coloured, Irish Draught. 16.2 hands high (1.65m)

Horses have been part of policing in the West Midlands since 1840.  

Kay Weale became the first female mounted officer in the West Midlands in June 1985.  

The last police horse to serve WMP retired in 1999 when our Mounted unit was disbanded. At the time they were seen as old fashioned in a modern police force entering the new millennium and the way they were managed back then was costly. It was the right decision for that moment time.  

You can find out more about the history of West Midlands Police horses, including meeting a life-size model of one of our horses, in our award-winning museum. To plan your trip at museum.west-midlands.police.uk 

Kind regards

 Jayne