4 race horses likely to boost Kolkata Mounted Police strength next month
Times of India | 16 January 2026
Kolkata: The Kolkata Mounted Police will add up to four race horses to its unit soon, even as the world's oldest mounted police unit battles to keep the stallions fit for working.
Four stallions, aged between seven and nine, might be handed over by the Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) at the end of the racing season, sometime in late Feb to early March, after a special request from Kolkata Police (KP), police sources said.
The KP Mounted Police was set up in 1840. Currently, the total number of horses in the unit stands at 59 against the sanctioned strength of 98. Each year, the unit witnesses either the death or retirement of six horses.
"Three to four horses are likely to retire at the end of this racing season," confirmed an officer. The induction of the new horses will be made barely two-and-a-half years after eight horses had joined the KP force. In 2024, six racehorses were inducted into the unit, taking the strength to 70, the highest in past five years. Aged between five and seven, these horses have been named as Full Volume, Ghosht, Thiago, Insoko, Dubai Bay and Bahuleyan. But the strength reduced to 59 early this year due to deaths and retirements. "A final decision on the exact number of inductions will be taken after the horses undergo necessary medical tests late Feb," said an officer. "As the newly-inducted horses will join after active racing, we might find them suitable for equestrian events. But they will be trained again," explained an officer. "The Bengal Police will also send personnel to Delhi, Haryana and Punjab later this week to procure horses," said an officer. Around six to eight horses might be bought at one go. All horses might not be staying in KP stables for too long. "A medical board is being created. This board undertook medical examinations of all horses. Another five horses maybe retired," said an officer. Training durations for the horses vary. The Kolkata Mounted Police has embraced modern techniques in horse rearing and training, including the breeding programme at Body Guard Lines Stable. Mounted Police is engaged in a range of law and order duties, except night patrol.