GOOD old Shandy has outlived all his stable mates, still has his own teeth, and could well be the oldest horse in the UK.

He may be small, but this grey-speckled Dartmoor pony is still in fine fettle, at the grand old age of 48.

Shandy was bought more than three decades ago by Jane Sloan and over the years has helped three generations of her family to ride.

He is now retired at Northwick Poultry Farm, which is owned by Castle Point councillor Ray Howard's family on Canvey, and continues to amaze vets with his good health and longevity.

Owner Mrs Sloan, of Watlington Road, Benfleet, said: "I bought him for my daughter 34 years ago and all I know is he was 14 when we got him.

"He is possibly the oldest horse in the country now.

"Everyone thinks he's a record breaker,. He has a long story to tell does my old Shandy."

The normal lifespan for ponies is 20 years.

The UK's oldest pony, according to the Guinness World Records, was Sugar Puff, an Exmoor Shetland, aged 56.

He was born in 1951 and died in Pembrokeshire in May this year.

Despite his largely happy and healthy life, Shandy nearly died of a broken heart following the death of his close companion Tammy, in 1999.

Mrs Sloan said: "When we lost Tammy, I thought he was going to die.

"It was touch and go.

"We couldn't get him to eat and he went to skin and bone, but gradually he started to eat and put on more weight."

He recovered and became well known for his trick of escaping from his field under the wiring like a circus escapologist.

She added: "He's a lovely pony and has always had a very good temperament.

"He's still got all his own teeth, but because he's an old man he does dribble a bit.

"It's remarkable that he's got to such an old age.

"He's been well looked after, but I can only take some of the credit. He's always had good health and that's God given. He's been a very lucky pony."