Our last police-bred horse, Xavier, is retiring after an extraordinary 17-year career.⁣ ⁣ He was born at Attwood, which was known as ‘The Police Stud Farm’ prior to the Mounted Branch moving to Attwood.⁣ ⁣ Throughout his career, Xavier has led the troops with his calm and reliable nature.⁣ ⁣ His retirement marks the end of an era for police bred horses, a program that ran for almost 25 years before it ended in 2006. During the program, four to twelve horses were bred each year with only few possessing the unique traits of a successful police horse.⁣ ⁣ Nowadays, we purchase horses from the open market and train them at the Mounted Branch before they hit the streets.⁣ ⁣ Xavier will live out his retirement getting spoiled by rider Senior Constable Kara Fiorentino in her paddock at home and in her own words, "I will miss seeing the world between his ears, and sharing my meal pack with him, even though he was always very greedy!"⁣ ⁣ #Horse #MountedBranch #VicPol