Grace Muir, Founder and CEO of HEROS Charity, receives MBE from Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal on Thursday 29th January at St James’s Palace
Grace Muir, Founder and CEO of HEROS Charity—an organisation dedicated to retraining and rehoming former racehorses and providing specialist education for young people with Special Educational Needs—was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List and appointed an MBE in June 2025.
Muir received her MBE from Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal at St James’s Palace on Thursday 29th January, accompanied by her husband Michael West, sister Anne Janaway, and stepdaughter Dulcie West. The presentation by the Princess Royal was especially fitting given her longstanding commitment to the equine sector.
Muir has devoted her life to improving the futures of former racehorses, retraining and rehabilitating them after their racing careers to ensure they enjoy long, fulfilling lives. In 2015, with support from The Racing Foundation, she founded HEROS Education to provide a safe, nurturing environment for young people who, for a variety of reasons, struggle within traditional learning settings. The programme offers them the chance to grow, learn, and thrive.
Although HEROS achieved official charity status in 2006, Muir’s dedication began long before. Raised at North Farm Stud on the West Berkshire–South Oxfordshire border, she developed a deep passion for caring for both animals and people from an early age. Her family’s longstanding involvement in the racing and breeding industry, along with the guidance of her parents Ian and Agnes Muir, has profoundly shaped her values and approach.
Driven, determined, and unwavering in her commitment, Muir has built HEROS into a charity that has transformed the lives of hundreds of former racehorses and an ever‑growing number of young people. Her vision continues to inspire meaningful change across both the equine and education sectors.
Reflecting on the honour, Grace Muir MBE said: “This is the biggest honour of my life. I am passionate about what I do because I truly love my work—it is my life. To be recognised and awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List was incredible and beyond my wildest dreams. It was a great privilege for my family and I to attend St James’s Palace, and it felt especially fitting that Princess Anne presented the award, given her deep involvement in the equine world. I hope this recognition will strengthen my ability to advocate for ex‑racehorses and young people. As we celebrate 20 years of HEROS, I remain as determined as ever to advance our mission and expand our efforts to support positive, happy outcomes for both horses and young people.”
