By Jorge Casuso

November 7, 2025 -- Laredo, a beloved member of the Santa Monica police force, died on Sunday after a seven-month battle with rotational laminitis on his left front hoof. He was 18.

An eight-year veteran of SMPD's Mounted Unit, Laredo was known "for his calm demeanor during high sensory environments such as protests and crowd control situations," police officials said Thursday.

The Wyoming native was one of four police horses involved in a February 2019 “Hoof Pursuit” that chased down a stolen vehicle in the Downtown area.

"Laredo was a trusted partner to his mounted officers, performing with excellence and pride while on patrols in the city of Santa Monica," police officials said in a statement.

"Laredo always brought a smile to the faces of children during school presentations and the public while patrolling our city."

Laminitis, the condition that led to his death, "is damage and inflammation of the tissue between the hoof and the underlying coffin bone," according to the UC Davis Center for Equine Health.

In its chronic phase, "pain and lameness are caused by displacement of the coffin bone," according to the Center's website. "Affected horses exhibit increased digital pulses, varying degrees of lameness, and weight loss."

Laredo had been on the force for less than two years when on February 5, 2019, dispatch confirmed that a car involved in suspicious activity had been stolen out of Pasadena.

Laredo, George, Sammy, Duke and their "human partners" immediately kicked into gear, SMPD reported on its Facebook page.

The officers yelled "Halt!!! Halt!!!'” to no avail. "Their pace quickens, backup is in route. The car continues to flee. . . but we know how this ends. Four individuals were taken into custody."

"New deployment . . . old school strategy. . . a solid arrest. Keep your eyes open and ears to the ground. Listen for the trot that let's you know the Mounted Unit is out and positively impacting crime in Santa Monica," the post read.