Police horse officially renamed at Glastonbury Festival
The festival's founder, Michael Eavis, did the honours of officially renaming the 11-year-old horse earlier, saying 'I've always had a love of horses'
Welcome police horse Pilton!
Avon and Somerset Police's 11 year old gelding has been hailed with the new name at the Glastonbury Festival today.
Glasto founder Michael Eavis did the honours, who says he's 'always had a love of horses', with them having a presence for the past two decades.
The naming took place at the festival itself, where Police horse Pilton is deployed along with his other four-legged colleagues to provide reassurance to festival goers.
Previously known as Tyson, the 11-year-old gelding, standing at 17hh, joined the police's horse section in December, with staff at the force saying he's taken 'easily' to his new role, having previously come from a large yard where he was trained with a number of different riders.
They say Pilton has built a strong bond with his trainer and is thriving in his new environment, and has already taken part in ceremonial duties - with his first one in March at Wells Cathedral.
He's just come back from the Bath and West Show, too, which the police say 'he was better behaved than his chaperone'!
His trainer PC Elizabeth Livingstone said: “Tyson is a pleasure to train and is progressing really well. I chose the name Police horse Pilton as we have a longstanding association with Glastonbury Festival, and the attendance of the police horses provides a familiar reassuring presence.
“We are always welcomed by Mr Eavis and as he started off the Pilton Pop Festival it seemed fitting to ask him if he would do the honours.”
Michael Eavis said: “I have always had a love of horses. We have had police horses at the festival for around 20 years so it’s a good thing for us”.