I guess you could say that we’re all a little finicky, especially when it comes to mornings. Some of us just aren’t morning people.
Well, neither is Jake. No, Jake is not a grumpy middle-aged man; he’s a police horse, and he’s very particular about how he needs his morning to go in order to get his day started.
Jake is 20 years old, and he refuses to start his morning work shifts unless he’s given a warm mug of tea.
Jake has been a member of the Merseyside Police Department in Liverpool, England, for 15 years, and he’s developed a taste for hot tea during his time on the force. He gained this love from sticking his tongue into the cup of whoever happened to be riding him that day. Officers in the Merseyside Police Mounted Section ended up adding Jake to their morning tea rounds, and now the veteran officer can’t seem to get motivated without it.
Lindsey Gaven, the head of the Police Mounted Section, said, “Jake is one of twelve horses we’ve got at the stable working with us. I’d definitely describe Jake as a horse with a lot of character. We’ve all learned his tea order – he’ll deal with one sugar, but is definitely happier when you remember to give him two. If you’re at the side of the stable and he sees you with a mug in your hand, you can guarantee he’ll trot on over to try and steal a slurp.”
For the record, Jake likes his tea with skim milk, two teaspoons of sugar, and a little cold water mixed in so he can chug it down before he hits the streets to enforce the law.
So criminals, watch out. This horse is caffeinated.
