ROYAL -- Past and present members of the Little Rock Police Department Mounted Patrol paid homage to a hoofed friend at Lake Hamilton Equine Associates Tuesday morning.
Mounted patrol horse Black Knight -- or "BK," as he was known by those who rode him -- was given a memorial service at 11 a.m. Tuesday on the veterinarian hospital's grounds. The horse died of colic April 17, after 15 years of service with the LRPD.
A solid black warmblood that stood at about 16 hands high, the patrol described Black Knight as a gentle giant that was assertive when necessary.
"He was always careful not to hurt anybody, but if you got in the midst of a fight or some big crowd, he'd go to work," said LRPD Officer Mitchell MacIntire, who rode Black Knight for 12 years. "He was a good horse."
Black Knight was introduced to LRPD Mounted Patrol in 2002. MacIntire said that the patrol was in need of a horse, and that Black Knight was the one chosen for the task.
"I came to work one day, and our sergeant said, 'We've got a replacement horse for you," MacIntire said. "I go down to the barn, and there's this big mammoth of a horse down there."
MacIntire would ride Black Knight into 2014. He described riding him as a "thrill."
"He had his quirks, like most horses do, but he'd always take care of you," MacIntire said.
LRPD said Black Knight was highly popular among those who saw him on patrol. Officer Gary Maltbia, who rode Black Knight for his final three years, said people from out of town especially liked the horse, as many were fascinated by a mounted patrol.
MacIntire said Black Knight was good with children, noting a school event where the horse welcomed students playing around his legs.
Equine, which tried to nurse Black Knight back to health in his final days, took note of his receptive nature. Dr. Jess Clement described Black Knight as "stoic."
"There wasn't anything that would scare him," Clement said. "He was really a great horse."
Maltbia said the patrol noticed a decline in Black Knight's health when he stopped eating. He said Black Knight was known for his aggressive eating, and the break in this habit raised concerns.
"BK eats," Maltbia said. "When he's not eating, you can assure something is wrong."
Colic is a condition that causes intestinal complications in horses. Black Knight was taken to Equine on April 14, and Clement tried to nurse him back to health until his death three days later.
Clement said the mounted patrol officers never left Black Knight's side during his final days. He called their loyalty to their hoofed friend "exceptional."
Clement said Black Knight appeared to be pulling out of his condition the night before he died.
"He was doing very well; he felt good," Clement said. "During the night, things took a turn for the worse."
The memorial service was held at the site of Black Knight's burial on the veterinary hospital's property. The service included the patrol's salute during the playing of taps, Fountain Lake Future Farmers of America's presentation of a plaque that now stands over the grave site, and a brief scripture reading and statement from Mounted Patrol Lt. James Sloan.
"We can never replace BK, but we know that in the coming days, the Lord will provide a replacement," Sloan said.
Maltbia called the service "above and beyond."
"This was unimaginable that Lake Hamilton Equine could provide such hospitality to us during these times," Maltbia said.
Though LRPD has found a replacement for Black Knight, he will be remembered fondly by those in the mounted patrol.
"You don't think you're gonna get attached to an animal like that till it happens," MacIntire said through tears. "He'll be missed by a lot, not just me."
Local on 04/26/2017