A SHETLAND pony has celebrated reaching the grand old age of 40.

Kyle of Threshers, affectionately referred to as “Pip” by his owners, was born on May 26 in 1978.

Pip has been a resident of Essex for 12 years after he was brought to White Cottage farm in Mundon, just south of Maldon in 2006.

When owner Margaret Hall brought him to her farm, he was in retirement after serving many years as part of the Essex Farmers Pony Club, a branch of Area 8, which covers all pony clubs in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, East Hertfordshire and Lincolnshire.

Throughout his time with the club, everyone who met him said how friendly and gentle he was.

Mrs Hall bought Pip as a present for her daughter Victoria, and served as a welcome addition to their family after the loss of their previous pony.

Mrs Hall said: “I had just lost my miniature black Shetland Barney at the time, who had been living in Althorne. He had Cushing’s syndrome, meaning tumours were growing and he had to be put down, which was devastating for us as he was so lovely.

“But Pip came to us and was a kind old gentleman, he has literally been no trouble at all and we adore him.”

Shetland ponies on average live to well into their thirties, with some in the UK being recorded to have lived to 46-years-old, making Pip’s birthday a significant milestone.

Despite some illnesses, Pip is still going strong, eating regularly and is as sociable as ever.

Mrs Hall added: “He is no trouble having his feet trimmed, although has Cushings but is treated with Prascend and seems to be fine.

“Our daughter Victoria is now an Equine vet at Clarendon Equine and so Pip gets the best of treatment. He has another Shetland at the moment for a companion, and he wears a New Zealand rug in the cold weather as he is an old boy but otherwise has a fairly healthy appetite.

“He looks for me in the mornings and afternoons and quickly arrives for hopefully more pony cubes.

“40 is a terrific age for a pony.”