Andrea's over the moon with her champion

6:09pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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Absolutely fantastic - that is how Andrea Moxey described her reaction when the pony she bought as a foal was named reserve champion at the British Connemara Pony Society breed show in the Midlands.

Andrea, a farmer's wife from Hilmarton, near Calne, went to the Connemara sales in Ireland three years ago and just fell in love with Maggie's Boy, known as Dougal at home.

She said: "I had seen an advert for the sales in Horse and Hound, I had always liked the breed and I thought it would be fun.

"But when Dougal came in to the ring, with his bushy mane, I just loved him and bought him completely on instinct. I was not looking for a winning show horse."

Dougal was bought as a five-month-old foal in 2005 as Andrea, who has ridden on and off as a hobby since childhood, thought he would make a lovely pony for her daughter as she came in to her teens.

She said: "Dougal has a lovely nature and is very quiet. I was so pleased when he won his class - the in-hand geldings - but was completely surprised when he became reserve champion.

"I have started some training with him and my daughters, Maddie and Millie, have had a sit on him and been led around the field. We will just take things very quietly this summer and then leave him for the winter."