Primrose, a 16.2 hand black mare has retired to The Home of Rest for Horses after a wonderful life on the open road.

The Shire was bought by her owner in the early 1990s as a six-year-old, to pull a bow-top caravan. They then travelled for three years with an old collie dog, pitching the caravan wherever their journey took them.

On her travels, Primrose’s owner picked hops, potatoes and strawberries, wool wrapped and assisted during the lambing season. The gypsy lifestyle created a very close bond between them and they eventually wound up on a farm in Hampshire.

This gentle horse has many stories to tell. On one occasion she was left on an unfenced patch of land for the night, tethered to a stake. By working the stake loose she managed to retrace her route through fruit bushes and around several large greenhouses to find the caravan. Amazingly nothing was damaged along the way.

On another occasion a helpful farrier offered his field as an overnight stop. He then suggested the caravan be parked on his front lawn for safety. During the night, Primrose sauntered down the lane from the field to the garden and, in the morning, was found fast asleep on the lawn right outside the caravan.

Primrose’s owner was, sadly, unable to continue to care for her and The Home is delighted to offer this 23-year-old sanctuary for the rest of her days.