Police horses could be scrapped from the Thames Valley if new cost-cutting plans are given the green light.

Thames Valley Police (TVP) could lose its mounted section by 2019, as bosses prepare to present various budget proposals to the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld, later this month.

A TVP spokesman said the three options being considered were to maintain the mounted section in its current format, to restructure the unit to continue the current service level while making savings or to scrap it completely.

Craig O’Leary, chairman of the Thames Valley Police Federation, branded the potential closure a “massive loss to the community”, adding that difficult decisions lay ahead for the force with “current financial pressures”.

Other supporters of the department took to Twitter to voice their anger, with Helena Hayward saying: “Mounted Sections are vital and highly effective in many areas.

“Further cuts may mean that soon mounted units in the UK are consigned to the history books. A very unwise decision that will have serious repercussions.”

Author Mike Pannett wrote: “A vital, effective and valuable asset to policing. Not only providing much needed support to TVP but several other forces. Invaluable on so many levels. If cut or lost it’ll be a massive mistake,” while Stuart Fraser said: “The mounted branch are worth their weight in gold at major public order events.”

The TVP spokesman said: “In line with forces nationally, Thames Valley Police continues to operate in an extremely challenging financial climate.

“The force has an ongoing commitment to deliver an effective and efficient police service that meets policing needs both now and in the future.

“A number of options are being considered to enable the force to make investments and savings to deliver this commitment.

Various budget proposals will be presented to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Anthony Stansfeld, later this month.

“This will include proposals in relation to the Mounted Section, of which TVP is one of only a small number of forces nationally to retain its unit.”

The options will be presented at a public meeting at TVP’s headquarters, in Oxford Road, Kidlington, on January 23.

- What do you think of the plans? Let us know in the comments below or email shruti.sheth@london.newsquest.co.uk.