A POLICE horse that has saved lives, escorted famous footballers and ridden alongside a legendary Grand National winner is retiring after 12 years’ service.
Sherwin, who is also known by his force name Musketeer, has finished his service with Merseyside Police and will move to a Horse’s Trust Home for Rest in Buckinghamshire.
The 16-year-old, 17hh grey gelding horse can no longer be ridden due to osteo-arthritis.
During his years of service, he has been involved in high-profile police work and helped crowd control during Liverpool Football Club’s Champions League parade in 2005.
He also played a part in saving the life of an 11-year-old boy who was choking to death.
PC Ian Carmichael, a mounted officer who rode Sherwin for two years, said: “I was riding him along a dual carriageway in Allerton when a vehicle stopped with a woman screaming for help.
“Sherwin stood there patiently on a very busy road while I gave the boy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”
Highlights of his career include being part of a team of four horses that led Hedgehunter, Grand National winner 2005, from the course to the winner’s enclosure.
In 2007, he also performed as part of a public display at Liverpool Waterfront where he negotiated flags and road works to show he was not afraid.
During his service, he was involved in all operational police duties such as crowd control for Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers football matches and patrolling Liverpool city centre in the evenings.
Stable manager Lindsay Gaven, said: “People loved him – they would come up to him and try and feed him kebabs.”
She added: “There were lots of tears when he left, he will be sorely missed and we will definitely go and visit him at the Horse Trust.”
Sherwin will see out his remaining years with three other police horses from other forces at the trust’s 200 acres of paddocks.
The Horse Trust founded in 1886, is the oldest horse charity in the UK and the Home of Rest provides sanctuary for more than 100 retired working horses, ponies and donkeys.
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