Vancouver Police mounted unit mourns passing of beloved retired member, Pico

VANCOUVER – A beloved former member of the Vancouver Police Department’s mounted squad has died.

Police horse Pico died of old age at the VPD stables on Oct. 21.

Pico earned a reputation as a calm and reliable horse during 13 years of service and retired from active duty in 2006 to spend another five years as a therapeutic horse at a Vancouver-area camp.

A fall in 2011 ended Pico’s days as a riding horse but he was returned to the VPD stables in Stanley Park.

The nearly 30-year-old gelding spent his last year living a life of leisure, enjoying frequent visits from members of the mounted unit and riders who had benefited from his gentle and dependable nature while at the therapeutic camp.

Mounted unit Sgt. Doug McMillan says Pico died peacefully and was not in pain.