This is the true story of an unusual hero. Tall, dark and handsome and often surrounded by an admiring crowd, this is no film star but an eight-year-old bay gelding from the Mounted Branch of the Metropolitan Police.From the Royal Wedding to the London riots to entertaining visitors outside Buckingham Palace, Merlin's career as a top police horse has been full of drama and unexpected challenges and his brave and loyal efforts have earned him celebrity status.Horses such as Merlin go through a challenging training process to prepare them for a life in the force. There are three stages of training: red, amber and green. Reports show that the young Merlin was sometimes naughty and spirited - but once his training was complete he was disciplined enough to maintain order at some of the toughest and most high profile events in London.This book looks at Merlin's daily life and duties and his fascinating partnership with his mounted police constable, Karen Howell. When Karen first met Merlin during his training it was love at first sight and over the years she has developed an intriguing bond with this brave, eccentric and deeply individual character.Including extracts from 'Merlin's Diary' and in-depth interviews with the officers who trained and work with Merlin day-to-day this book examines the extraordinary partnership between humans and horses in the modern police service. The author also delves into the surprising history of police horses in Britain and looks at how horses are a key part of law enforcement around the world.

Born in the stables of the Sultan of Morocco, an Arabian stallion named Sham is taken to England, along with the loyal yet mute Arab stable boy who tends to him, and becomes one of the founding sires of the Thoroughbred breed.

Cassius was a truly exceptional police dog whose career became the stuff of legend and the gold standard for all dogs coming after. In just five years he scored a century of arrests, saved lives, bit half a dozen policemen, and gave his handler, PC Joe Sleightholm, the most exciting, exhilarating, and nerve-wracking times of his life. Things did not go according to plan in Sleightholm's first years as a police dog handler. The difficulties of finding and keeping the right dog were so great that he was ready to give up. Then Cass came along. The two of them quickly formed a bond, graduated as stars from the training school, and became an outstandingly effective working partnership. Cass became part of the Sleightholm family, too. Car thieves, armed robbers, drug dealers, murderers, burglars--Cassius learned to find them, contain them, intimidate, and attack if he had to. Sometimes it was dangerous for him. Usually it was more dangerous for the criminal. The story of Cassius is by turns thrilling, funny, and moving, and always a fascinating insight into the freemasonry of police dog training.

Cassius was a truly exceptional police dog whose career became the stuff of legend and the gold standard for all dogs coming after. In just five years he scored a century of arrests, saved lives, bit half a dozen policemen, and gave his handler, PC Joe Sleightholm, the most exciting, exhilarating, and nerve-wracking times of his life. Things did not go according to plan in Sleightholm's first years as a police dog handler. The difficulties of finding and keeping the right dog were so great that he was ready to give up. Then Cass came along. The two of them quickly formed a bond, graduated as stars from the training school, and became an outstandingly effective working partnership. Cass became part of the Sleightholm family, too. Car thieves, armed robbers, drug dealers, murderers, burglars--Cassius learned to find them, contain them, intimidate, and attack if he had to. Sometimes it was dangerous for him. Usually it was more dangerous for the criminal. The story of Cassius is by turns thrilling, funny, and moving, and always a fascinating insight into the freemasonry of police dog training.

First published in 1889, this novel has two main plots; one set in the real world at the time the book was published (the Victorian era), the other in the fictional world of Fairyland.

As featured on BBC radio For Bill Bryson fans. An eccentric couple take the road less travelled through the English countryside and meet lovelorn tourist guides, pushy shopkeepers, ESP students, immortality seekers and weary bodyguards. Cornwall, Devon, Shropshire, Lincolnshire, Somerset, Suffolk,