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Police
Horse Retires after 14 Years in the Force
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TD with Phil Jones winning Horsemaster's Trophy |
19
year old Taunton Deane (or TD as he is affectionately known)
retires tomorrow after 15 years loyal service with the Avon
and Somerset Mounted Section.
TD, who has been gifted to the ILPH (International League for
the Protection of Horses), is to go out on loan to Mrs. Hilary
Webster from Weymouth in Dorset where he will spend his retirement.
Says ILPH Field Officer Peter Griffiths, "In 1988 when
I was Chief Inspector in charge at the Avon and Somerset Mounted
and Dog Sections I was approached by Mrs. Min Mason, a long
time supporter of both Sections, as she wished to purchase a
horse foruse by the Mounted Branch.
"That year we purchased a 5 year old gelding who was later
officially named Taunton Deane by HRH The Princess Royal who
is the ILPH President. "
Once TD's basic training was completed he was allocated to PC
Philip Jones, now ILPH Field Officer for South Wales, and the
pair went on to win many championships both nationally and at
a local level. |
Says
Phil Jones, "We took him to the Metropolitan Police Horse Show
at Imber Court in 1993 where we won the individual tent pegging
and the championship, the team tent pegging and the Master-at-Arms
trophy, he really was a star."
Apart from all the fun of competing TD carried out all his official
duties including football matches, demonstrations and the Glastonbury
Festival, etc., where, Phil
continues, "He was a true professional."
Taunton
Deane with trophies
www.ilph.org
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