Liverpool visitors to be greeted by 8ft bronze horse

Visitors to Liverpool will soon be greeted by a life-size bronze statue of a shire horse complete with horse tack. Honouring the city's hard-working dock horses and carters that worked in the city for 250 years, the statue is to be unveiled in the Albert Dock on May 1st this year, the traditional date for the May Day Horse parade.
The eight-foot sculpture, called 'Waiting' is the creation of acclaimed sculptor Judy Boyt, and will be mounted on a plinth along with information on the history of the working horses.
The horses were used to carry provisions from the docks to the warehouses and shops and were essential during the petrol-rationed days of World War II.

In 1935, Liverpool had 4,910 working horses which was the highest amount outside of London but by the 1960's, they had been replaced by motor vehicles.

"The horse drawn carts have 250 years of history and they were so important to Liverpool" Jimmy Doran, one of the few surviving carters from the 1940's said.

Until now, the only monument to the horses has been a plaque near to where the horses were originally stabled. Fundraisers, backed by Liverpool council and the British Horse Society, have been campaigning for a proper monument since 1977 and have so far raised £120,000 to go towards the bronze horse.

The statue is hoped to remind the younger generation and visitors to Liverpool of the city's past and the important work the Carters and their faithful equine companions did.

Image ©ulybug, via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence