A POLICE horse and her rider are preparing to have a busy few weeks because they’ll be helping to police the London 2012 Olympics.

Pc Sarah Fisk and the seven-year-old dappled grey Toffee will be on patrol at Chelmsford’s Sparks Will Fly event on the evening of July 6, as the Olympic torch travels through Essex on its way to the opening ceremony in London.

The duo will also be at Hadleigh Farm for the mountain bike events on August 11 and 12, and travelling to London to help the Metropolitan Police Service provide a police presence at Olympic football matches at Wembley Stadium.

Pc Fisk said: “I’m very much looking forward to taking Toffee to the Olympics and working with mounted units from all over the UK.

“Toffee is confident and brave and she’s really proving herself to be a strong lead horse at the unit so I’m confident she’ll do brilliantly.”

Policing one of the world’s biggest sporting events will be a new experience for Pc Fisk and Toffee but both are well prepared and looking forward to it.

They have only been working together for around six months but have formed a close bond in a short space of time.

Pc Fisk said: “Toffee loves nothing more than a bit of fuss and a good scratch on the back. She’s a very friendly horse and loves carrots, apples and the occasional Polo mint!

“Toffee loves rolling about in the fields at the stables but because she’s light in colour that means she has to be washed and groomed every day.”

“I’m very lucky to be working with such a confident yet lovely natured horse and am very much looking forward to taking her to the Olympics.”