They're Not Horsing Around

Our intrepid reporter joined a riot and had a close encounter with the giant police horses who help keep the county safe

- Olivia Assheton

They canter out of swathes of blue smoke and the yelling hooligans beat a hasty retreat, stumbling and clutching on to each other as they look fearfully over their shoulders.

The yobs had been noisy, aggressive and armed with missiles but the mood changes dramatically as six enormous police horses approach and their heavily protected riders in full riot gear shout: ‘Go back, go back NOW.’

It’s a scene that has been played out at riots and incidents of civil disorder across the country, so where did this latest clash take place? At a city centre protest or rally, maybe, or in the streets near a football stadium? No, this threatening crowd had gathered on a tree-fringed lane in the peaceful countryside at Hutton.

And most of the ‘yobs’ were trainee police officers taking part in an exercise at Lancashire Constabulary’s Mounted Unit HQ which would help them learn about the unit’s work.

Also in the crowd were Lancashire’s High Sheriff, Ralph Assheton, and me, his wife Olivia, on duty for Lancashire Life.

‘You’ll be part of a noisy, aggressive crowd of rioters,’ said Inspector Rob Gomery. But does my husband get mown down by police horses while I stand at the back? Can I swear?’ The answer to both is no, it seems.