- New police horse Barton to visit part of city he was named after
- His first official outing will take place at the St. James City Farm
- He will be joined by old favourites Boris and Huntsman
- Event open to the public
He was given his name by the public and his first public appearance will be in the part of Gloucester he was named after.
Barton, the newest member of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s mounted section, will be guest of honour at St. James City Farm next week, on Thursday (27 October).
Barton’s name was chosen by the public at the Gloucestershire Police Open Day at Waterwells last month where it received nearly a quarter of the 524 votes cast. He is the section’s second new recruit along with Teddington who was also named by the public, and will be on parade with his other stablemates Boris and Huntsman.
Imran Atcha, co-ordinator of the charity which runs the City Farm, Friendship Café and Gymnation said, “We’re very excited at the prospect of seeing Barton and two of the other police horses. We have our own riding school so there should be lots of interest”.
Barton, a six year old Skewbald breed is six years old and 17 hands high. He is the fourth recruit as part of an ongoing trial to establish whether a mounted section in Gloucestershire is desirable and necessary.
Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said, “We are already finding that where mounted patrols have been operating they have provided a reassuring presence and there’s been a good connection between the police and public.
“There has been a lot of research into the effectiveness of mounted police units and what always comes up is the relationship the public have with horses. For some reason, people seem more comfortable approaching an officer on horseback than they might one on foot”.
St. James’ City Farm is run by the Friendship Café, an organisation that aims to give young people in the Barton and Tredworth areas a more positive pathway into adulthood by building confidence and aspiration.
The youth-led services encourage communities to work together towards a producing a safer and more inclusive city and as such qualifies for funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Police Horses Barton, Boris and Huntsman will be at the St. James City Farm, Albany Street from 12:30 onwards on Thursday 27th October.
