Police force horse retires at 23

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The longest-serving police horse in Britain's largest force is retiring to the Kent countryside after spending two decades on the streets of London.

Raleigh, who is 23, has been involved in policing almost every annual large scale event held in the capital.

They have ranged from football matches to ceremonial duties including Changing of the Guard and Trooping the Colour.

Pc Bill Hounsome, of the Metropolitan Police's Mounted Branch, said Raleigh was still "fit and youthful".

'Well-deserved rest'

"He may be a veteran at 23 but he thinks he's 13.

"When he's excited he bucks and jumps around, and he's good at tempting people into feeding him apples and other treats.

"It's incredible for a horse to still be so fit and youthful at his age, but he has served an exceptionally long time as a police horse and it's time for a well deserved rest."

He added that Raleigh would join his best friend Hector, who retired six years ago, at stables in Sevenoaks.

The Metropolitan Police employs 148 mounted officers who look after 120 horses housed in seven stables at an annual cost of about £900,000.

Most of the horses are bought aged five or six and enjoy a career of about 15 years.