A VETERAN shire horse is heading for pastures new after a lifetime pulling pints for Thwaites brewery.

The 18-year-old Horse of the Year Show star, who was named Classic at the age of three by the winner of a Lancashire Telegraph competition, is being put out to grass for his well-earned retirement.

The brewery’s head horsekeeper Charles Beardmore has enjoyed such a close relationship with Classic, that they will now spend more time together than ever.

After caring for the horse throughout his 15 years at Thwaites, Charles is now taking him home to enjoy the rest of his days as a family pet.

He said: “I couldn’t bear to let him go anywhere else.

"He’s an absolute legend, the best horse we have ever had in the yard.

"What makes him so special is his character and personality, and his willingness not to let you down.

“He’s also powerful, brave and gentle - basically everything you’d want in an animal.

"I’ve looked after him ever since he arrived and that’s why I’m taking him home with me.

"I’ve rented a field near my house so he will be able to roam around all day and eat grass.

"Then at night, I’ll bring him into his stable.

“I just want him to have quality time from now until the end of his days because he deserves it.”

Classic has been a member of the famous Thwaites shire horse collection since 1993 and has won a stable full of rosettes from shows at home and abroad.

For half his service at the brewery he delivered beer during the week and took part on the show circuit at weekends.

“When we brought him home for the first time we actually thought we had made a big mistake and wondered if he would ever make it,” said Charles.

“But he’s just gone from strength to strength.

“He’s won countless individual awards over the years at events like the Great Yorkshire Show and the Royal Lancashire Show.”

The world famous Thwaites shires date back to the year 1807.

They were replaced by motorised drays in 1927, but brought back again in 1960.

Horse-drawn deliveries stopped again around the Millennium when the brewery moved its distribution department out of town.

Classic’s swansong came in October when he was a special guest at the Horse of the Year Show’s 60th anniversary at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

“That was one of his proudest moments,” added Charles. “He had the full arena to himself and TV actor Simon McCorkindale read from ‘Ode to the Horse’ by Ronald Duncan as a tribute to him.

"I think it’s fair to say it was pretty emotional.”