It was National Horse Day in the UK on December 13 and to mark the occasion, equestrian apparel brand and equine insurer Harry Hall went on the hunt for the oldest pony in the land. That honour went to Roana, a roan mare now 45 years young.
In a video posted to the Belfast Telegraph’s Instagram account, Roana’s owner Cerys Brown tells the reporter that the secret is good genetics, good joints and good care. And despite injuries over the years, a bout of strangles, and the loss of muscle tone and a few teeth, the mare looks remarkably younger than her 45 years.
“Horses are living longer due to advancements in nutrition and medicine,” agrees Harry Hall’s managing director Liz Hopper. “We are witnessing them surpassing expectations of the average age, which is around twenty-five.”