It’s not every day that police officers get called to horses running free amongst traffic on the borough’s streets.
But that’s exactly what happened on Saturday, 21 May when an off-duty PCSO on his way to work reported seeing horses on the loose and unattended in Winifred Road, Coulsdon, at 06:30hrs.
Responding to the emergency call, six police officers arrived to find four horses and one foal making their way from Clifton Road into Bramley Avenue.
The officers realised they had to act quickly to stop the horses from reaching the busy A237 Woodcote Grove Road.
One of the officers, PC Jose Fernandez, used his outstretched arms to marshall the horses whilst PC Ger Geehan used the police car to block their path and encourage them to turn around whilst the other officers helped to keep the horses away from passing vehicles.
After two hours the officers had managed to corral the animals into the safety of a cul-de-sac at the north end of Grove Lane where they waited until a charity arrived to provide assistance.
Another of the officers – PC Joe O’Toole – was praised by his colleagues for his ‘horse whispering’ skills in keeping the animals calm before they were loaded into horse boxes and checked over by a vet who reported they were all fit and healthy.
PC Geehan said: “For a time it felt like we were in a Wild West film running around the streets after horses. Although the horses were running around, we managed to keep up with them.”
PC Fernandez commented: “It’s the closest I have ever been to horses.”
The rightful owners can contact Sutton Police station on 101.
But that’s exactly what happened on Saturday, 21 May when an off-duty PCSO on his way to work reported seeing horses on the loose and unattended in Winifred Road, Coulsdon, at 06:30hrs.
Responding to the emergency call, six police officers arrived to find four horses and one foal making their way from Clifton Road into Bramley Avenue.
The officers realised they had to act quickly to stop the horses from reaching the busy A237 Woodcote Grove Road.
One of the officers, PC Jose Fernandez, used his outstretched arms to marshall the horses whilst PC Ger Geehan used the police car to block their path and encourage them to turn around whilst the other officers helped to keep the horses away from passing vehicles.
After two hours the officers had managed to corral the animals into the safety of a cul-de-sac at the north end of Grove Lane where they waited until a charity arrived to provide assistance.
Another of the officers – PC Joe O’Toole – was praised by his colleagues for his ‘horse whispering’ skills in keeping the animals calm before they were loaded into horse boxes and checked over by a vet who reported they were all fit and healthy.
PC Geehan said: “For a time it felt like we were in a Wild West film running around the streets after horses. Although the horses were running around, we managed to keep up with them.”
PC Fernandez commented: “It’s the closest I have ever been to horses.”
The rightful owners can contact Sutton Police station on 101.