A police horse who dedicated over half of his life to serving Greater Manchester has now retired to the Horse Trust.
Greater Manchester Police took to social media to say a fond farewell to Parker who they described as "cheeky" and "born to be a police horse". In Facebook and Twitter posts they wrote: "Parker was the smallest horse at the mounted unit.
"However, what he lacked in height, he made up for in bravery and character. When he arrived at GMP in 2012, he was an instant hit with both the officers and members of the public.
"He had a cheeky nature and a one-of-a-kind squeal that would make people smile. Due to this high-pitched noise, he earned the nickname Piggy.
"It was clear to see that he was born to be a police horse as he loved his job. If he saw other horses leaving the yard without him, he would not be happy! Parker has had an exceptional career and was involved in many high-profile events.
"He’s also taught every new mounted officer that has joined since he arrived, as he was always a safe and reliable horse who was willing to confront everything.
"He’s a horse with a giant heart and has cheered countless people up over the years. He will be sorely missed, but no one deserves retirement as much as Parker."
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