Police horse punched by fan dies in retirement
A ‘brave but gentle’ horse who made headlines around the world when he was infamously punched in the nose by a Newcastle United fan after a Tyne-and-Wear derby has died.
B u d wa s att a c ke d by a To o n f a n w h e n v i o l e n c e broke out after the game at St James’ Park where Sunderland AFC had defeated the home team 3-0 in April 2013.
The Newcastle fan’s actions were condemned a rou n d th e wo rl d a n d h e received a 12-month prison sentence.
Bud, who thankfully was unharmed in the incident, was transferred to the Metrop o l i ta n Pol ic e M ou nted Section in 2015 after serving for 10 years at West Yorkshire Police.
The Bay Shire cross had given 14 years of service to th e Br i t i s h pub l i c b e fo re h e ret i re d to T h e H o r s e Trust’s Home of Rest in the Chilterns in 2019.
His former riders described Bud as a loyal and steady horse.
A s s o o n a s h e a r r ive d , everyone at The Horse Trust fell in love with him.
Sadly, Bud died from colic last week aged 21.
Jeanette Allen, chief executive officer of The Horse Trust, said, “Bud had a wonderful retirement, albeit a sadly short one after being taken from us by a fatal colic.
“It is our privilege to care for these incredible animals later in life that along with their officers give so much to our communities.
"I personally made sure that Bud never saw another football scarf while he was with us!”
Jeanette added: "We just so wish we could have had him longer, such a brave but gentle boy who remarkably still loved people.”