Police Horse Woody recognised for bravery in public vote to find Animal of the Year at South Yorkshire Police Awards

A South Yorkshire Police horse who showed bravery and courage has been recognised in the Force’s Operational Support Awards.
Woody and his rider PC Michelle Hudson are presented with their award by Superintendent Paul McCurryWoody and his rider PC Michelle Hudson are presented with their award by Superintendent Paul McCurry
Woody and his rider PC Michelle Hudson are presented with their award by Superintendent Paul McCurry

Police Horse Woodthorpe, known as Woody, was voted runner-up in the Animal of the Year category at the special awards.

This particular award, which recognises the “vital role” the force’s horses and dogs play in protecting and serving South Yorkshire communities, was voted for by the public.

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Woody received more than 700 votes to take second place behind police dog, Winston.

Ridden by PC Michelle Hudson, Woody, who came over from Ireland, only joined the mounted department at South Yorkshire Police 18 months ago as a green six-year-old but has progressed well.

“Woodthorpe is a cheeky character especially when there might be an apple or carrot close by but he does everything I ask of him in daunting and stressful situations,” said PC Hudson, adding that he had developed into a “confident young police horse”.

“During his very limited service, he has been involved in large-scale disorder and escorted two, very loud and volatile crowds during football matches.

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“Woodthorpe has already shown that he is incredibly brave and has made an excellent police horse,” said PC Hudson.

It was Woody’s bravery in catching a suspect in Endcliffe Park in Sheffield on June 27, which earned him his nomination.

PC Hudson explained: “My colleague, PC Rachel Reece, dismounted from her horse, Hoober, to stop and search a man who was smoking cannabis. Woody stood quietly while the search was being conducted. The man then ran from PC Reece and without any hesitation about leaving his friend Hoober, myself and PH Woodthorpe started to purse the suspect in canter.

“We then went out onto the road and down towards Hunters Bar, where it was very busy with vehicles, before a district officer arrived, making a lot of noise with the sirens and managed to arrest the man.

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“Horses do not like to leave their companion and Woody did this without question,” PC Hudson said.

“The noise and things going on around him, did not phase him at all. I was incredibly impressed by his behaviour.”

PC Hudson and Woody were presented with their award by Operational Support Unit Superintendent Paul McCurry at the Mounted Section’s base on Ring Farm in Cudworth, Barnsley.

South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire are two of only a handful of police forces nationwide which have mounted police sections.

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Described as “invaluable” for policing football matches and events, as well as national events including the 2012 Olympics, all the horses on the South Yorkshire force are named after villages and towns in the county.

South Yorkshire’s horses returned to Ring Farm in 2018, following a two-year cost-cutting measure, which saw West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire sharing stables at Carr Gate in Wakefield.

But the joint venture did not work out and the decision was made to bring the horses back into the county.

Work to refurbish Ring Farm, which has been home to South Yorkshire’s Police Horses since 1990 and had stood empty for the two years they were away, was completed last year.

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The winner of the Animal of the Year Award was police dog Winston, an English Springer Spaniel trained in detecting cash, drugs and weapons.

Winston had retired but due to a reduction in dog numbers at South Yorkshire Police, he rejoined the force and his handler, PC Lee Schofield, said: “Every day he comes to work with a smile on his face ready to search and find.”

His career highlights include over £700,000 worth of cocaine in one find, several hundreds of thousands of pounds of cash including £150,000 hidden in a cellar and buried firearms.

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