Lord Firebrand - PDSA Order of Merit
Military Working Horse, Lord Firebrand, also known as Yogi, has been awarded the PDSA Order of Merit for his devotion to duty and service to society from 2013 to 2023.
Serving under the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, Yogi has had a distinguished ten-year career. In 2022, he showed exceptional bravery during the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and the funeral of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Yogi went above and beyond his duties by supporting his rider in stressful situations, fostering trust and confidence, making him a worthy recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit.
Watch his inspiring story:
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Yogi's story
Lord Firebrand, fondly known as Yogi by those who looked after him, has had a ten-year successful career as a Military Horse. Throughout his career, Yogi's impressive demeanour and striking appearance have made him the top pick for parade commanders.
Yogi has been praised for his calm and reliable nature since starting his career as a Military Horse. Because of this, he has participated in the full range of State Ceremonial and Public Duty (SCPD) including the State Opening of Parliament, State Visits and Trooping the Colour.
Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
In 2022, he was selected to participate in the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations and the funeral of Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II due to his calm and steady nature. Yogi even provided unique emotional support to his rider on these two occasions.
For the Platinum Jubilee Celebration on 13 May 2022, Yogi was chosen to be the Parade Commander’s horse due to his poise and reliability in stressful situations. The parade is a challenging role for any horse as they are required to stand still for two hours, despite large ranks of Foot Guards conducting foot and rifle drills in front of them. However, Yogi remained calm and professional, despite the distractions.
Operation London Bridge
After his impressive job at the Platinum Jubilee Celebration, Yogi was chosen to be part of Operation London Bridge – the codename given to all events leading up to the State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Yogi was part of every aspect of the event. He even led the procession conveying Her Majesty’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the duration of Lying in State.
Despite only having one full rehearsal for the event, in the middle of the night, during the hours of darkness with minimal crowds, Yogi handled Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral with professionalism and grace.
Speaking of the event, Yogi’s rider, Captain Amy Cooper, said: “Yogi is the only horse I would trust to deliver such a high-profile parade under such scrutiny and pressure. Yogi is the first choice for any parade commander.”
A distinguished ten-year career
Yogi retired in December 2023 after a distinguished ten-year career with the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Yogi provided unique emotional support to his riders throughout his decade-long career, showing the special bond between people and animals. He went above and beyond his general role in every task he completed.
Yogi, officially known as Lord Firebrand, was formally awarded the PDSA Order of Merit at a special ceremony in London on 2 October 2024.
