Rupert the horse visits Shrewsbury nursing home
He may not quite match up to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but Rupert, the football-playing horse was on hand to spread some festive cheer to residents of a Shropshire nursing home.
The 18-year-old horse trotted into The Uplands at Oxon, in Shrewsbury, as an early Christmas present for staff and residents. Rupert is no stranger to the care home, having also visited around this time last year.
The horse counts being able to play football among his many talents and showed off his skills once again in the home.
Nurse manager Carey Bloomer said everyone at The Uplands was thrilled to see Rupert return.
"Rupert is a star and the residents absolutely love him," she said. "More than ever this time, they loved stroking him and chatting to him. We all look forward to seeing him again next year."
His owner, Elaine Whalley, who runs her Be-Equine business from the Madeley area of Telford with the help of her mother Jan.
She has had Rupert for about six years and after seeing the enjoyment her grandmother got from spending time with him, Miss Whalley decided to offer a service in which Rupert pays visits to care homes.
After last year's visit, she said Rupert had developed his unusual ability to play football several years ago when he was being treated for skin cancer.
"During the treatment, he was very mentally active but couldn't physically do anything.
"He found it difficult to walk but wanted to be doing something," she said.
