A police horse has ended his long career on a high, after helping with the arrest of a man with a knife in Lewisham.

Police Horse Putney and PC Lehane teamed up to apprehend the armed man in the South London area.

The Met Police revealed the heroic actions via a Facebook post, detailing how the suspect gave himself up, and allegedly dropped his weapon on the floor, upon seeing Putney.

The post said: "PC Lehane and Police Horse Putney responded and on seeing Putney, the man gave himself up and dropped the weapon on the floor."

The incident marked a final triumph for the equine officer, who is set for retirement later this week after a "long and dedicated career" of serving and protecting London's local communities.

The Met Police said this is "a great result for police horse Putney who is saddled up for retirement later this week after a long and dedicated career protecting London's communities".

Police Horse Putney is part of The Met's Mounted Branch – a key crowd control and community engagement unit, with a history tracing back to 1760.

The initial purpose of the unit was to manage highwaymen in London.

Today, it undertakes various responsibilities including high visibility patrols, anti-violence initiatives, VIP escorts and crowd control at sporting events.

The Mounted Branch at present consists of about 110 horses, more than 100 police officers and staff, dispersed over seven locations including Bow, Hammersmith, West Hampstead and Lewisham.

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A typical day involves a three to four hour patrol, which may be extended depending on the circumstances.

Picking these equine officers is a careful process.

Horses are chosen for their temperament, size and trainability, with the Met often opting for Irish breeds.

Purchased as four-year-olds, selected horses undergo a four week trial period, following which they formally start their training for at least the next six months.

In under 18 months, most horses reach operationally ready status.

The officers – both two legged and four – continue their duties to keep London safe, as Police Horse Putney gallops off into a well-earned retirement.