A former police horse deemed unsuitable for duty has triumphed at a major international vaulting competition thanks to the dedication of equine welfare charity the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) and his new borrower.

ILPH Islay, a 17.3hh 12-year-old black gelding on loan to Liz Mackay from the Eagles Vaulting Group in Kinross, Perthshire, U.K., won a bronze medal for Great Britain at the FEI European Vaulting Championships, held in Kaposvar, Hungary Aug. 7-12. Islay and his vaulter, 17-year-old Victoria McLaren from Stirling were competing in the Junior Female Individual CVI*.

“We achieved so many personal bests that my head is still spinning!” ManKay said. “Islay was an absolute star from beginning to end. On the last day they even managed to pronounce ILPH Islay correctly having, as usual, called him ‘Ilf Isli’ up till then.”

ILPH Islay arrived at ILPH Belwade Farm in Aboyne in 2002 from the Strathclyde Police Mounted Branch. Islay didn’t take to life on the beat; he found loud noises scary and wouldn’t stand still at football matches. He was signed over to the ILPH and began an extensive yearlong rehabilitation program under the guidance of Eileen Gillen, ILPH Belwade Farm Centre Manager.

“When Islay arrived at ILPH Belwade Farm, he was a young horse that hadn’t really grown into his massive body,” Gillen said. “Upon investigation, we discovered he had a hind limb lameness and was suffering from painful back spasms. His rehabilitation was extensive and we did lots of physiotherapy treatment with him. After a year he had progressed so well and had such an excellent temperament that we asked Liz if she would like to try him for vaulting. The rest is history!”

If you are interested in taking an ILPH horse on loan, please visit www.ilph.org/hls