POLICE pensions may be under scrutiny at the moment as Government austerity measure start to bite.

But for the force's latest employee heading for retirement, a packet of Polo mints and couple of carrots will probably suffice.

Ross – Humberside's longest serving horse – is set to retire after more than 15 years of service.

Initially joining the ranks in 1998 as a four-year-old, Ross has performed his duties in front of the Queen and former US President George W Bush.

Now almost 19 or the equivalent of a 60-year-old in human years, Ross has patrolled hundreds of football matches along with numerous protests, strikes, demonstrations and marches.

Ross will be sent out to pasture at the Horses Trust in Buckinghamshire.

"I can honestly that Ross is the best police horse we have ever had," said PC Caroline Middleton, from the force's under-threat mounted section.

"There is nothing that scares him or any situation he would refuse to go into. Ross has impeccable manners. He is a joy to work around in every field. He has no vices and is very polite."

Ross has been involved in football matches not just in Hull, but in Manchester, Nottingham, the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northumbria.

PC Middleton said: "He is well behaved for everyone including the farrier, vet and groom.

"He would load himself into the lorry if he could and generally knows what you want from him before you even ask."

In May 2002, Ross took part in All The Queen's Horses, which was a celebration for the Golden Jubilee involving more than 1,500 horses from across the country, including police forces and the celebrated Kings Troop – a ceremonial unit of the British Army.

Most recently, Ross helped police in the industrial dispute at BP Saltend for six weeks and the industrial dispute at the Linsey Oil Refinery in Killingholme for two weeks in the middle of winter.

Ross has also attended protests by the English Defence League and animal rights demonstrations as well as working at numerous fetes and open days, patrolling at York Races and he even patrolled Teesside Airport in 2003 when the US President George W Bush landed.

All of this has been carried out alongside his every-day general patrol duties covering the whole of Humberside's force area.

He has completed missing person searches, neighbourhood support and city centre patrols during major sporting events and weekends.

PC Middleton said: "Ross is the only police horse I know to get excited in public order situations. They are what he thrives on.

"He actively wants to be involved in crowd dynamics and is in his element at the front of an escort.

"His retirement is well deserved but he will be missed by everyone who has ever had the pleasure to work with him."