Back in May, the Hampton, N.H., mounted unit had to move their four horses Blaze, Patriot, Buddy, and Arrow because of neglect at the farm where they’d been kept for years (see more information at www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=9696). It appeared the neglect was unintentional by a new person who took over their feeding and care.

 In a Nov. 23 article at Seacoastonline.com, it was noted that Patriot had left the force because of a bout with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Blaze and Buddy had been forced into retirement in October because of age. (The article noted that their retirement had nothing to do with the care incident.) That left the Tennessee Walking Horse Arrow as the town’s only police horse.

The town’s manager said the unit needed at least two horses for the patrol to be viable, so either another horse had to be found, or the unit was to be disbanded. The Hampton police wanted to keep the unit.

An anonymous donor now has provided funds to purchase a new horse, and the search is on for a suitable mount. In the article, Hampton Police Chief Jamie Sullivan said the department’s mounted patrol Unit would be ready to patrol in the beach town by the summer of 2008. However, the unit will only be two horses