Police take part in horse training

Specialist horse training, which prepares and equips police officers with basic handling skills, is designed to enable the police to deal safely with the animals and increase public safety.
PC Marcus Audoin, of Denham police, was one of those who took part.
He said: "The session taught us some very useful skills when it comes to horses, which would normally not have formed part of our police training.
"Because we police a rural area, we often have to deal with horses that are running wild, and this course has helped us understand how to handle them, minimising the risk of injury to the horses and to us."
The one hour session with Horse Trust staff showed officers how to safely approach a horse, fit a head collar and lead the animal to a place of safety.
Practical guidance was given and for some of the officers it was the first time they had ever handled a horse.
Once the officers had completed their training successfully they received a certificate of competence and a head collar for their patrol vehicles.
The group were the fifth group of Thames Valley Police officers to have taken part in the horse training so far.