A NINE-year-old horse that looked destined to end up as dog meat has qualified for the Regional Dressage Championships.

Ocean Breeze was the star of the show at Sunday's dressage competition at the Forest of Dean Equestrian Centre in Yorkley.

However, owner Claire Talbot only bought the horse she calls 'Ollie' to save him from ending up as pet food.

Claire said: "It was a bit of a project and I certainly didn't expect him to take to dressage so well. When I heard he was going to slaughter I just wanted to save him. He's had a horrible life and was a nervous wreck when I got him. To begin with, even putting a head collar on was a difficult process and he would shake if you went near him with tack.

"The horse carries scars and it has taken a lot of time and TLC. He is a genuine horse who doesn't have a nasty bone in his body."

Ollie is now upstaging expensive dressage horses in some of the top regional events. He also has a flair for cross-country.

Claire added: "He has spent his entire life never being truly ridden. Any horse can turn into a competition horse, it just takes time and schooling."