BIRTHDAY celebrations of the equine variety took place as a thoroughbred mare edged closer to becoming a record-breaker.
Merrylegs, a jet black, 15.2hh thoroughbred, celebrated her 35th birthday with owner Carole Hamilton and is as frisky as the day she was retired.
Mrs Hamilton, who bred Merrylegs herself, said: “She is fit and well and has been enjoying her retirement for a number of years now.
“She’s living the life of a lady which she fully deserves.”
Celebration for Merrylegs was a few minutes out in her specially designed rug, which helps repel midges, before a welcome feed of oats.
She added: “In her younger days she was a very good, fast horse to ride, along with being very reliable and safe as well.
“I had been trying to find out if she was anywhere near the record books, but think she has a few years to go yet.”
The life expectancy of a thoroughbred is somewhere between 25 and 28 years. However, at 35, Merrylegs may be a grand age, she is still a few years short of the oldest recorded thoroughbred.
According to the Guinness book of world records, Tango Duke, owned by Carmen Koper of Victoria, Australia, is the oldest recorded thoroughbred, who reached the grand old age of 42.
