A DATE at the Badminton Horse Trials is the horse owner's equivalent of a place in an FA Cup final - so it was an invitation Snetterton-based World Horse Welfare could hardly turn down.

A DATE at the Badminton Horse Trials is the horse owner's equivalent of a place in an FA Cup final - so it was an invitation Snetterton-based World Horse Welfare could hardly turn down.

So it was with pride that a team of seven rescued Shetland ponies took to the main ring at the weekend to stage a 'Mini Mayhem' event.

Six ponies, split into two teams, raced against each other over a series of obstacles. In the Rehab Rascals corner were Zeam, Milo and Yippee, whilst their opponents were the Welfare Warriors comprising of Ewan, Carreras and Jake - with chestnut pony Stan acting as judge.

“The mini mayhem event is something that we have been running for the past couple of years,” says centre manager Sue Hodgkins. “For these ponies - most of which have been rescued from cruelty and neglect - to be appearing in the main ring at Badminton is very special indeed. I don't think that the top riders such as William Fox-Pitt and Mary King will be quaking in their riding boots, but we are very proud!”

For more information visit www.worldhorsewelfare.org