A RECENTLY-MARRIED couple took the unusual step of inviting their best man on honeymoon with them – but then, he is a horse.

Newlyweds Paul Boyles and Kay Clark brought their ‘best man’ on honeymoon to Powys following their wedding in May.

Former racehorse King Erik took guests by surprise as he walked down the aisle to deliver the wedding rings, which were attached to his saddle.

And when Paul and Kay headed off for a hacking honeymoon at Brandy House Farm, a tourism and equine holidays business at Felindre, near Knighton, Erik and another horse borrowed from a friend joined the couple.

When Paul came up with the idea of having Erik at the wedding, he enlisted the help of a friend, Stephanie Marshall. Erik, with Stephanie in the saddle, arrived at the outdoor wedding venue to the Black Beauty theme.

“I decided not to have an official best man, but no one knew,” Paul told Horse & Hound magazine.

“When I was asked for the rings, I fumbled around, pretended I’d forgotten them and then turned round to say: ‘Please welcome my best man’ and Erik made his entrance.

“He walked up the aisle and brought the rings, in a little treat bag on the saddle, then stood there while we finished the service and walked down the aisle behind us.”

When it came to the best man’s speech, Paul arranged a “live video link” to the yard, where Erik was back in his field. He played recordings of him whinnying, to cheers from the guests, then he came with them to Powys on honeymoon.

“We did 11 days of hacking and it was absolutely amazing,” said Paul.

“Brandy House Farm was the most perfect location and venue for our honeymoon. Miles and miles of hacking from the doorstep and second to none facilities for the horses.”

Medina Brock, who runs Brandy House Farm with her husband, Richard, said they were delighted to host the honeymoon for the happy couple and their horses.

“We loved meeting King Erik who has become quite the celebrity and was taking his fame all in his stride,” she said.

County Times: Paul and Kay with King Erik on their honeymoon.Paul and Kay with King Erik on their honeymoon.

“Of course, it was lovely to meet Paul and Kay too and we were delighted that they chose Brandy House Farm to spend their honeymoon and to enjoy some of the riding this beautiful part of Mid-Wales has to offer.”

Brandy House Farm is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent company representing more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Southern Snowdonia.