Officers at Avon and Somerset Police have paid tribute to the “cheeky” however good police horse Blaise, who has died aged 15.

The stalwart of the Avon and Somerset mounted department, who had been with the pressure since 2018, suffered a sudden bout of colic and couldn’t be saved.

A spokesman for the pressure mentioned: “PH Blaise was 15 years outdated when he sadly died after getting colic. He had been with Avon and Somerset Police for 5 years, spending three years along with his rider PC Amy Glew.

“PH Blaise is described as a cheeky character who grew to become a mentor to the youthful horses within the mounted division. He was a superb horse who cherished to mess around however when he began working, he would do precisely as we educated him to do.

“He has labored various soccer video games, festivals resembling Glastonbury and was one of many horses deployed in the course of the Bristol riot, which occurred exterior Bridewell police station in spring 2021. He was an enormous a part of the staff and shall be sorely missed by everybody.”

PC Glew instructed ITV information she was on maternity depart when the riot broke out in 2021, so one other officer was driving Blaise, who “actually confirmed what a superb police horse he was”, demonstrating his bravery as he took all the things in his stride.

The Avon and Somerset Police mounted part was honoured in 2021 with the primary ever Police Horse and Officer Motion of the 12 months award, which was offered on the final night time of the Horse of the 12 months Present that October.

“What our officers and horses skilled had been ranges of violence like nothing they’d seen earlier than,” mentioned chief superintendent Claire Armes, head of operational help directorate at Avon and Somerset Police, on the time.

“The braveness and resilience they displayed was a credit score to their characters, their coaching and to the excellent bonds of loyalty and belief that our officers have constructed with their horses.

“Our police horses have performed a serious position in each single public order incident in Avon and Somerset within the final 30 years, serving to us include and handle main incidents, shield the general public and forestall accidents. They’re, past doubt, a massively beneficial asset to our service.”

Police sergeant Hannah Clarke had mentioned the riots had been the strongest aggression she had ever skilled in her profession, and that the horses – Mendip, Somerset, Windsor, Trinity, Blaise and Clevedon – had been “simply wonderful”.

After Blaise’s loss of life, PC Glew instructed ITV: “It’s like dropping a buddy, a companion. We’ve misplaced a very good police horse however we’ve additionally misplaced one of many staff. It’s simply actually, actually unhappy.”

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H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Obsessed with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all points of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of selection is showjumping, wherein she competes her personal horses, and he or she additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by means of to worldwide championships.