Daredevil pony and rider play horseball

Darius the pony was involved in an accident at the age of just one year. His owner could not afford treatment and was advised to put him to sleep.

But instead he contacted The Blue Cross animal charity, who treated him with antibiotics to combat a shoulder infection.

Now aged 17, Darius has learnt the sport of horseball with his latest rider, 13-year-old Becky Frost.

The pair have been practising the fast paced sport described as rugby on horseback at the Twin Trees Equestrian Centre in Northill and are in the junior team. Riders have to hang from the saddle of a moving horse and scoop up the ball from the ground.

Becky, who lives near Biggleswade, said: “It’s such good fun and you get the hang of it quite quickly. The first thing we learned was how to pick up the ball. It was a bit nervewracking trying to reach right down to the floor but it soon got easier.”

To read the full story see the Biggleswade Chronicle of Friday, September 30.