In County Down, the horse believed to be the oldest in the UK celebrated her 46th birthday with a special cake made of linseed mash, grass pellets, and grated carrot. Roana, along with her stablemates Tinkerbell and Barnaby, enjoyed the treat from Cerys Brown, Roana’s owner, who has had a close bond with the horse for over three decades.
Cerys first rode Roana when she was just six years old at a riding school and described their connection as inseparable. She reminisced about their time together at competitive show-jumping events in the 1990s, joking that Roana wasn’t initially fond of small children but was won over by treats. When the riding school closed, Cerys’s grandmother purchased the pony for her, and Roana has resided at stables in County Down ever since.
Despite Roana being diagnosed as the UK’s oldest horse, Cerys described her as a constant companion through significant life events, including attending her wedding. Cerys credited good care, feeding, exercise, and genetics for Roana’s longevity, explaining that the horse’s presence helped her through challenging times when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 18. The strong-willed and spirited Roana, described as having a “zest for life,” has exceeded expectations, living well beyond the average horse age of 25. Cerys expressed her surprise at Roana’s title as the oldest horse in the UK, emphasizing the special bond they share
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