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Two long-serving police horses have been awarded an ‘animal OBE’ for their outstanding contribution to the Met.

Grace and Keston, who worked for 15 and 12 years respectively, performed a host of public order and specialist operational tasks during their careers.

They have now been honoured with the prestigious PDSA Order of Merit, which recognises the ‘incredible contribution’ they both made to the Force.

Grace joined the Met in 2004 and was posted to Lewisham Police Stables after just six months of training.


Over the years, her duties included escorting the military, assisting public order policing at football matches and providing support in the 2011 London riots.

Grace worked for the Met for 15 years (Picture: PDSA)

She also carried out a series of school visits and reassurance patrols and was recognised for how well she worked with children.



Grace retired in 2019 and is now stabled at Imber Court, in East Molesey, where she escorts and trains younger horses.

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Keston joined the Met in 2007 and was posted to Hammersmith Stables where he took part in countless high profile public policing events.

During his career he escorted the Queen and worked the 2012 London Olympics, Notting Hill Carnivals and the Million Mask March, in which many officers and horses were injured.

He was also involved in the serious disorder at a Millwall versus Birmingham football match, where the Mounted Unit went in to support and protect foot duty officers.

Keston sadly pasted away from an unexpected and severe colic (Picture: PDSA)

Sadly Keston died in January this year from an unexpected and severe colic.

Today, police horse Tempest stood in for him and collected his award on his behalf.

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Police Sergeant Craig Richards, who nominated both horses for the PDSA Order of Merit, said he was ‘absolutely chuffed’ to see Grace and Keston be recognised.

He told Metro.co.uk: ‘Grace and Keston were the perfect police horses, performing impeccably during their lengthy careers.

‘They often worked in challenging and hostile situations, ignoring distractions and dangers, never faltering in their duty. They were a pleasure to ride and are a credit to the Force.

He served the Met for 12 years before his death (Picture: PDSA)

‘As a police officer, you know you have a good horse when you can actually do your job without even realising you’re riding an animal.

‘It sounds strange but you’re actually only conscious you’re on a horse when things are going wrong beneath you’

He continued: ‘These horses didn’t come out of the box bomb proof. Grace, even now at 20 years old, still has so much character about her.

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‘Keston was really quite challenging as a young horse to train, a nightmare even, if I’m honest. To then get to the stage where he became so good, was incredible.

‘Before his demise he was always chosen as the supervisor’s horse and the horse to ride.’

Keston and Grace worked together in the past, tackling the Gaza demonstration in 2009, where barriers and other objects were thrown at horses and their riders.

They now take the total number of PDSA Order of Merit recipients to 30, including 18 dogs and 12 horses.



The PDSA Order of Merit, which was instituted in 2014, recognises animals who display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society, above and beyond normal companionship.

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