World Horse Welfare remember some star horses

By Imogen Johnson

General news

09 January 2012 11:30

As War Horse hits the cinemas this week, World Horse Welfare (WHW) remembers its horses, past and present, who’ve been exceptional while serving with the forces.
 
War Horse os the epic movie about a horse called Joey who touches the hearts of many people during World War One.  Such was the use of horses on the Western Front. Over eight million died on all sides fighting in the war.
 
Now, the charity WHW is paying tribute to the fantastic its fantastic horses who have each played a vital role in the services over the years:
 
Marley (also known as KC) is a WHW horse who served with Greater Manchester Constabulary for seven years.  The 16.1hh bay youngster went into the Belwade Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Aberdeenshire in 2002 after his owners couldn’t look after him anymore.  After nursing his confidence and transforming his personality, it was agreed he could potentially be an ideal police horse and soon joined the mounted branch.

“Marley was the last horse I trained in the police service; when he arrived he looked like a little pony but soon blossomed into a very handsome chap,” said Fran Williamson, who trained Marley at Greater Manchester Police.

“He was a lovely horse and a pleasure to work with, very versatile and easy to train.  Although he was quite small in comparison to some of the other horses he had a very independent attitude.
 
“Marley could be quite grumpy to handle and stubborn, for example he never liked loading into the horse box and his biggest dislike was standing in the rain at football matches where he could get quite cross and fidgety, however he was a strong character and carried out his police duties admirably and served the Police force well, I was very proud of him.”
 
Marley, who has always been referred to as a special horse, has now retired from the police and has been rehomed to a loving new family.
 
Digger, an eight-year-old 19hh Clydesdale gelding is on a two year programme to become a drum horse with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. The ‘gentle giant’ went to Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Aberdeenshire in 2010 as his previous owners could no longer look after him.
 
His talents were soon realised though, and he was quickly rehomed by the regiment where he continues to do well with his training. 

The Household Cavalry Adjutant, Captain Roly Spiller, said Digger has proven to be a hugely popular horse with an excellent temperament, and is making good progress with his training. 

“It will take some time for him to build up to carrying the State Drums, as he is still very light, but he has been working well with the Riding Staff.  He has also been a huge hit when parading with the Musical Ride, and has been very patient with his adoring public,” Roly explained.
 
“Our horses are at the heart of our ceremonial commitments, which we mix with service in Afghanistan, and Digger has established himself as a real Regimental character.”
 
Penny, a 14-year-old Irish Draught mare is used by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery after being rehomed by the regiment from WHW in 2001.  Penny was taken into the charity’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre near Blackpool after being found extremely underweight and covered in lice.  However, after successful rehabilitation and a real transformation she was rehomed to the King’s Troop where she continues to take part in many high-profile ceremonial parades and events, including the Queen Mother’s funeral.
 
Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare Roly Owers said:

“We have many rehomed horses which are being used in fantastic ways and we are extremely proud that some of them have in the past, or still are, serving in the forces.  It’s sometimes difficult to believe where horses such as Penny came from; she’s undergone a complete transformation and now carries out one of the most prestigious roles performed by a horse in the country.
 
“It’s easy to forget that horses continue to play a fundamental role in the services today and are relied upon in many ways.”
 
One of the more famous horses which the charity cared for is Copenhagen.  The black gelding joined the Household Cavalry based in Knightsbridge, London in 1975 and was present during the notorious IRA attack in Hyde Park on the men and horses of The Queen’s Life Guard in 1982. Copenhagen suffered serious injuries but survived the blast and eventually returned to his duties.
 
After 14 years in the Household Cavalry he was retired to WHW, known then as the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), where spent the rest of his days at our headquarters, Hall Farm in Snetterton, Norfolk. 
 
General Manager at the time, Richard Felton described Copenhagen as a friendly soul who enjoyed playing around with his companions and who impressed everyone with his gentle nature. 

“As a mark of the affection held for this horse his picture appears on the book cover of Debt of Honour, Jeremy James' story of the ILPH,” he said.

“Despite his previous injuries and shrapnel still embedded

in his body this gallant horse enjoyed a happy retirement at Hall Farm, Snetterton."
 
 For more information visit www.worldhorsewelfare.org