It sort of makes sense. A lot of the horse-breeding that goes on is for sports. A horse bred for racing or showjumping will not have the build or temperament for police work. Draught horses - and more and more people are trying to revive and sustain these breeds - are big, heavy and slow. That kind of leaves the odds and ends that inhabit riding schools or stables where the public can go to hire a horse for an afternoon ride. But they come in all shapes and sizes. Of course, the ban on fox-hunting means that horses are no longer bred for this pupose, but horses bred for hunting are also the best kind for police work.

The Mounted Division in any police force is a small one and probably not at the front of the queue for funding. But as the ad implies, the requirements are quite specific in terms of build and temperament. If people are no longer breeding for these characteristics, they will be getting thin on the ground!