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Lexington Police Horse Passes Away

Posted at 12:21 PM, Dec 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-21 12:22:51-05

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)- The Lexington Police Department has announced the death of police horse Finley.

The 13-year-old member of the department passed away suddenly after a brief illness.

Finley was born in 2005 and raised by a Harris County, Texas sheriff’s deputy, who donated Finley to Lexington Police in 2013. During his time with the department, Finley partnered with two riders, Officer Brian King and Officer Ricky Yates. Both described him as a kind, calm and loveable horse. As with all horses in the unit, Finley was trained to work in an urban environment to provide crowd control and high-visibility patrols in the downtown area.

Lexington police officers remember that Finley had a large appetite for life…and food.

Mounted police horse in downtown Lexington on Nov. 20, 2018. Photo by Parry Barrows.

“Finley assumed everyone he met was there to give him a treat,” Officer Yates recalled. “He had the best hair in the business, too! Finley was a high-maintenance diva some days, but he would give you everything he had every day of his life. He was a true soldier.”

Finley became ill and stopped eating on Sunday, December 16. He was taken to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, where he passed peacefully while in the excellent care of veterinary staff.

 

The Lexington Police Mounted Unit is appreciative of the outpouring of support it has received regarding Finley.

 

“While I can never replace Finley in my life or my heart, I know that with time and prayer I will learn to cope with his absence just as we cope with the absence of a loved one. Finley was family,” Officer Yates said.