South Yorkshire Police Mounted Unit has said a sad farewell to one of their Police horse last week.
Hoober the police horse, was put down on Tuesday 30 November.
This was after he was rushed to the Rainbow Hospital on Sunday 28 November for emergency surgery on a fatty tumour found on his small intestine.
The 15-year-old horse joined the South Yorkshire Police team in September 2011. He provided them a decade of service.
He was ridden by all the officers in the Mounted Unit, part of the force’s Operational Support Unit.
PC Lindsay Crew shared her fondest memories of Hoober.
She said: “He could turn out to every occasion. It was because of his lovely manners. He could be used at the football, at protests, at ceremonial events and as mutual aid for other forces.
“He was an absolute soldier and did his job perfectly, in fact he was perfect in every way. He wasn’t scared of anything and as well as bringing on other young horses he helped bring on inexperienced officers who joined the unit too.”
On Twitter, PC Reed shared a video montage of PH Hoober.
In the Tweet, he said: “There are not enough superlatives to describe this amazing guy.
“He was our bravest horse, a genuine rock, and a lovely character.”
1. Devastating news. PH Hoober sadly passed away this week after suffering a twisted gut. There are not enough superlatives to describe this amazing guy. He was our bravest horse, a genuine rock, and a truly lovely character. pic.twitter.com/Jq7FNB2cQS
— PC Reed (@PC_Reed) December 3, 2021
Less than a year after he joined the police force, Hoober worked on the three legs of the Olympic torch relay and attended both the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He was a veteran of Doncaster St Ledger meetings and spent a lot of time on mutual aid in the North East around Newcastle and Middlesbrough as well as many protests.
“He was characterful, cheeky and very good with all the grooms and officers,” Lindsay said.
At the stables in Ring Farm, Cudworth, Barnsley, Hoober was know as one of the more mischievous members of the team.
Lindsay added: “He was definitely the escape artist of the stables
“He was the Houdini of all horses and he could open any door.”
Police Horse Hoober will missed by all at South Yorkshire Police and they thank him for his long and loyal service.
