A NEW pony has been wowing visitors with his sublime football skills at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary.

Far from hoofing it, Jeffrey likes nothing better than kicking and heading a ball around the 55-acre farm in Edenfield.

And makeshift goals erected by workers at the charity have shown Jeffrey to be a hotshot in finding the net.

The three-year-old came to the sanctuary in Bury Old Road around six months ago.

Neil Martin, manager at Bleakholt, said the young horse was found with two other animals next to a motorway in Bolton.

He said: “He was in good condition, but he's a stallion, so he's a little bit stroppy.

“We have to keep him on his own with an older horse to keep him company, called Bracken.

“To keep Jeffrey occupied we need to stimulate him, so the staff decided to give him an exercise ball to play with.”

Neil said Jeffrey had taken to the game like a natural.

He said: ”Bracken doesn’t like the ball but Jeffrey loves it. He uses a shelter as a goal and chases the ball into it.

“We’re not allowed to play goalkeeper because he’ll run you down if you get in his way!”

Jeffrey grazes in the sanctuary’s fields, trains and exercises and interacts with humans in open day horse parades.

Neil said: “He and the other animals are very happy here, it’s a suitable environment for them so they will stay here for life.

“Being somewhere where they get lots of attention from people is an ideal home for them.”