Paris Olympic horses to be awarded military medals

Fly de Vesquerie is one of four horses that will receive the medal at the headquarters of the Republican Guard in Paris on Monday ahead of the November 11 commemorations.

The Bronze Medal of National Defence rewards particularly honourable service by military personnel.

Dogs, and even pigeons during the First World War, have already received such a medal, but this is the first time that horses will be decorated.

The Republic Guard made 20 horses available to the Olympic pentathletes. The other three to be honoured are Dicton de Vesquerie, Dallones des Dunes and Fast du Pre.

On Fly de Vesquerie, French athlete Clouvel, who is a captain in the gendarmerie, won her second Olympic silver medal in the modern pentathlon, eight years after reaching the podium in Rio de Janeiro.