WITH loving care, the right food and lots of work, your pony can win competitions well into its 30s.

Heidi, the 33 year-old, 14.1 Welsh cob is no exception. She and her owner Vanessa Straight, from Evesham, have won the Veteran Horse Society's (VHS) Golden Veteran-In-Hand award for ponies or horses over 30 years of age.

This year, because of the foot and mouth epidemic, the competition had to be judged by video.

Even so, the standard was excellent with 60 horses and ponies showing brilliant condition and turnout.

Mrs Straight put her success down to keeping her horse healthy and active all the year round.

She said: "I show her and enter her for gymkhanas and handy pony throughout the summer and take her for hacks and fun rides through the winter which keeps her supple and alert."

She says she feeds Heidi on Cortaflex which is good for her joints, Baileys 15 senior and keeps her clipped and rugged in the winter.

Mrs Staight said: "The older she gets the better she looks. The only sign of age is that she's lost a couple of front teeth but her back ones are fine according to our vet."

The 32-year-old has been riding since she was eight and has owned Heidi since she was 11.

She recommends owners of veteran horses to join the VHS, based in Kenilworth.

Established in November 2000, the organisation now has over 800 members and registered horses and has just held its first National Veteran Final.

Soon the society, whose patron is David Broome, will be opening a rehabilitation centre for horses and ponies over 15 who have been rescued from cruelty and neglect.

For further information, contact the Veteran Horse Society on 01926 511666.