Snodgrass puts his hooves up after 15 years of service

Snodgrass was a well loved police horse who has been to some historic football matches

A well-loved police horse is hanging up his saddle for the last time, as he approaches retirement.

Snodgrass, 18, has been working for Greater Manchester Police since he was just three years old, and has been involved in high-profile police work such as patrolling crime hotspots and crowd control at football matches.

The hardworking horse is now looking forward to a well deserved rest at The Horse Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire, after 15 years service.

In 1999, he helped with crowd control at Manchester United's homecoming parade after the team won a Treble - the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League Cup.

Chief Inspector Lynn Roby, Head of GMP Mounted Unit, said Snodgrass was one of the GMP's most reliable and best loved horses.

She added: "Snodgrass is the sort of horse that takes everything in his stride - he is so laid back. Nothing phased him, even the Manchester United homecoming in 1999, which was the noisiest event a police horse could be involved in.”

“Everyone in the mounted unit adores him - we all went to say our goodbyes when he left and there were quite a few tears."

Snodgrass also featured in the Mounted Branch television series on Animal Planet channel and was used as a model for an art exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery last year - artist Gwon Osang used him as a model for a life-size sculpture.

The exhibition, called 'Deodorant Type: Sculptures by Gwon Osang', was on display at the gallery from June to September 2008 and is now touring exhibitions round the world.

Snodgrass has been on a waiting list to retire at The Horse Trust for 18 months after problems with his foot meant he could no longer be ridden. The sanctuary has welcomed him in, even though they have temporarily closed their doors due to a drop in public donations during the credit crunch.

Paul Jepson, Chief Executive of The Horse Trust said: “We initially agreed to take Snodgrass in, but then he had problems with his foot, which meant he couldn't travel. We have had to close our doors to new horses temporarily, but didn't want to let Snodgrass down after his many years of loyal service to the Greater Manchester Police.”

Roby said she is delighted that Snodgrass will be able to spend the remaining years of his life in such a peaceful location, with access to 200 acres of paddocks.

Chief Inspector Roby continued: "We want Snoddy to have a long and happy retirement at The Horse Trust - he really deserves it. I've visited The Home of Rest and knew it would be ideal for him. I would have carried him there
myself if he couldn't travel.”

Jepson said he was delighted The Horse Trust could offer Snodgrass a home. He also thanked the Greater Manchester Police Mounted Branch for their fundraising efforts - when the Mounted Branch gives public presentations about its work, it asks for any donations to be made to The Horse Trust.