The Police, Horses and Natalie Matthews
We’ve all seen them around, either at football matches, local events or nights out in big towns or cities. Big, impressive horses that look equally part of the police force as their riders; the Mounted Police.
Haddon Training met up with Natalie Matthews who is a Reserve Rider in the Mounted Section of the South Wales Police, Natalie is also completing her Level 2 Horse Care apprenticeship with us.
Natalie works fulltime for the Neighbourhood Policing team in Port Talbot, then as required works as a Reserve Rider in the Mounted Section of the South Wales Police force.
Natalie came across Haddon Training at her local riding school whilst having a lesson. Our Trainer- Coach was onsite and Natalie used the opportunity to find out about Apprenticeships. It became clear that undertaking an Apprenticeship would help underpin Natalie’s knowledge of Horse Care, and benefit her role in the Mounted Police.
Behind the Scenes in the Mounted Police…
As a Reserve Rider Natalie attends 14 training days a year which includes; riding in the school, off road riding, riot training and tactics. Riot training with the horses can involve riding through a mock village with real flares and petrol bombs being set off!
A fully trained, consistent and reliable Police horse can take between 6 months and two years to train. Part of the training is ‘nuisance training’, this consists of: people banging on drums, waving flags, shouting and screaming, throwing tennis balls at the horse and riders. For this type of training the horses wear full riot gear which includes: kneepads and boots, visas attached to their bridles to protect their eyes, and a nose guard to protect the front of their face.
Natalie has been on duty with the Mounted Police during: the Brighton Pride Parade, Cardiff and Swansea football match after dark, the European Cup Final, Wales vs England Rugby, concerts at the Millennium Stadium including Coldplay and Justin Bieber. Natalie and her colleagues also ride alongside the funerals of police men and woman and attend local community events.
During these events Natalie is responsible for the care and welfare of the horse the entire time from when they leave for an event until they return. When they return to the yard, Natalie will rug and feed the horse, clean the tack and then her shift will be over.
Natalie aims to become a full time rider within the Mounted Police and complete her Intermediate Rider, an internal Police qualification. Being a Mounted Police rider is a very sought after position, it took 10 years in the Police force until the Reserve Rider position became open for Natalie to apply.
Natalie would highly recommend the Horse Care Apprenticeship to others in the equine industry, she already has to other police forces, friends and colleagues. Natalie believes the apprenticeship programme helps to standardise and structure training within a practical environment.
Watch the full interview with Natalie below:
Click here to view our current Horse Care Apprenticeship vacancies in England
Click here to view our current Horse Care Apprenticeship vacancies in Wales