HE’S got skill, pace and power – everything the modern footballer needs.
Meet Geoffrey the footballing pony.
He has been wowing visitors with his sublime football skills at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary.
Geoffrey, three, likes nothing better than kicking and heading a ball around the 55-acre farm in Edenfield.
And workers at the charity say he has become equally adept scoring goals with both hooves!
Geoffrey came to the sanctuary in Bury Old Road around six months ago.
Neil Martin, manager at Bleakholt, said the young horse was found with two other animals next to a motorway in Bolton.
He said: “He was in good condition, but he's a stallion, so he’s a little bit stroppy.
“Most of our mares are in season at the moment and the fact that they are 10 times bigger than him doesn't seem to bother him. When there’s a will, there’s a way.
“We have to keep him on his own with an older horse to keep him company, called Bracken.
“To keep Geoffrey occupied we need to stimulate him, so the staff decided to give him an exercise ball to play with.”
Neil said Geoffrey had taken to the game like a natural.
He said: “Bracken doesn’t like the ball but Geoffrey loves it.
“He uses a shelter as a goal and chases the ball into it.
“We’re not allowed to play goalkeeper because he’ll run you down if you get in his way!”
Geoffrey grazes in the sanctuary’s fields, trains and exercises and interacts with humans in open day horse parades.
Neil said: “He and the other animals are very happy here, it's a suitable environment for them so they will stay here for life.
“Being somewhere where they get lots of attention from people is an ideal home for them.”
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