Pupils visit police horses

Children stroke the Police horse at the mounted and dogs unit in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester

Nine students from the Darnhill Study Centre at Heywood were treated to a tour of Greater Manchester Police’s mounted and dogs unit in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.

The trip was organised by Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Jenny George to give the pupils aged eight to 11 years old a chance to learn about many different roles within the police service.

As well as being shown around the stables and kennels, the young people were able to talk to officers about working with dogs and horses and got to meet some of the animals.

PCSO Jenny George for the Heywood Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “It was a really great event and we all had a wonderful day. The students really enjoyed themselves.

“I know we would all like to say a big thank you to Kirsty Onslow, the stable staff for informing the pupils about police and their role as well as the role of the horses in everyday policing. We are now hoping to arrange another visit some time in the future.”

The Greater Manchester Police mounted unit was established in 1900 and currently has 35 horses and is run by a chief inspector, with an inspector, five sergeants and 31 constables. There is a team of 23 specialist grooms overseen by a stable manager also working in the unit. An equine trainer is also part of the team.

The unit is one of the busiest mounted police units in the country. It covers the whole of the county and works every day of the year. The mounted officers are used to target crime hotspots and are also seen at many events including demonstrations and the region's many football matches. Horses are also used to search inaccessible areas for missing or wanted people.

All horses within the GMP mounted unit are traditionally given the names of Dickens characters.