It’s been a few years since horses on Maidstone’s roads were a familiar sight.
But one bold stallion decided to take advantage of an overnight lull in traffic, to make his way from a field in Tovil to Mote Park.
Despite having to cross some major roads, the rugged animal – still wearing his own sheepskin blanket and rug – pitched up at Maidstone Rugby Club, where he was discovered calmly grazing on Tuesday morning.
Groundsmen Tony Saunders and Martin Maytum tethered the friendly visitor to the pavilion, before enlisting the help of chairman Carol McKenzie in trying to trace his owner.
Past president Bob Beney said: “As I got there I saw this horse tethered up by the pavilion and thought that’s a bit of a cheek, somebody’s come along and cleaned their horse here. Or that things are bad if we need horses now, rather than a tractor.
“But it turned out it had arrived overnight. It had the common sense to use the rugby pitch though, and had not gone on the cricket square.”
The animal’s impromptu appearance was then put on Facebook and online through horse-related websites and in just an hour its owner, a woman from Tovil, arrived to collect him.
Mr Saunders said: “He was obviously well cared for, because he was wrapped up and very friendly.” He didn’t pull away at all when you went up to him.”
It is believed the horse had either escaped, or been let out of , its field overnight.