The Stockholm Police Mounted Unit is experiencing a significant shortage of suitable horses, leading to empty stalls at their facility. In response to the scarcity, the unit has broadened its search criteria and introduced Orvar, a six-year-old white horse who reportedly marks the first white police horse for the Stockholm unit in decades.
According to police rider Malin Hägglund, finding appropriate horses has become increasingly difficult. The traditional police horse is typically a Swedish Warmblood of brown or chestnut color, usually a gelded stallion. However, with the shortage, the mounted unit is now considering different colors, breeds, mares, and even importing horses from abroad.
it has become much harder to find suitable horses for police work
The police horses in Stockholm patrol the streets daily, contributing to visibility and security. They maintain several horses ready to deploy to locations like the Iranian embassy following escalations in the Middle East, requiring horses with both strong mentality and physical durability.
Horse industry expert Anders Eriksson explains that several operations, including riding schools and ceremonial guards, face similar challenges finding suitable horses. He notes that breeding has focused more on elite sports horses rather than the stable, reliable horses needed for police work, comparing elite sport horses to 'driving a Ferrari.'
the shortage stems from breeding practices focused on elite sports horses rather than the stable, reliable horses needed for police work
He compared elite sports horses to driving a Ferrari, while police work requires more dependable animals