A POPULAR Avon and Somerset Police horse has been put down after failing to recover from an injury.

Sedgemoor, who had been with the force for six years and had attended events such as Glastonbury, football matches and public displays, was put to sleep last Monday.

The gelding failed to recover from a suspensory ligament suffered last September

Mounted section stable manager Jonathan Green told Horse and Hounds: "He was a naturally brave horse and nothing really phased him during his six years’ service.

"He had been on box rest since September, but despite treatment there was nothing else we could do for him which was a real shame as he was a lovely chap.

"We don’t know what caused it – it's one of these things that happens for no particular reason. It could have happened when he was turned out in the field, but you can’t really pinpoint the exact cause. Sometimes it’s treatable and sometimes not.

"We normally keep them and retire them when they’re 20, so potentially he would have served us for another eight years, but unfortunately there was nothing else we could do.

"He was an extremely kind-natured horse and we will all miss him dreadfully."