MASSIVE Shire horses Ben, Beau and Rosie, who drew a crowd of admirers in the horse shoe ring, are the pride and joy of lorry driver Roger Macey.

He spends three hours a day with the beautiful beasts during the week, more at the weekend, and dare not consider how much money he pours into his unusual hobby.

But perhaps the dedication of Mr Macey, of Hawe Close in Canterbury, is not surprising when you consider the horses are about as old as his daughter Sharon, 23, who was also at the show.

"I had a silly ten minutes in 1988 when I went and bought my first one, Polly. She was my favourite, she died four years ago aged 27," said the self-employed driver, aged 58.

"They live to anything between 20 and 30. Ben and Rosie are 23, Beau is seven. I don't ride them but Sharon does.

"It's a completely different thing to riding other types of horse - you have to sit there and talk to them, they don't respond to kicking or anything like that, they'd just stand there.

"You have occasional funny turns with them like you do with any animal. I've been kicked before, but when you think each is over a tonne in weight and has got a mind of its own I'd say we get on very well.

"They are very expensive but I don't work out how much it costs because it would be frightening. But I get a lot of satisfaction out of taking them to ploughing matches and demonstrations in the area. It harks back to a different way of life, it's like going back in time."