A HORSE and rider from the Forest got the royal seal of approval after winning a competition in north Wales.

When Heidi Bennett left Littledean with her four-year-old mare Popsters Bootylicious for the Anglesey County Show, she had no idea she would end up chatting with Prince William and making an appearance on TV news.

Heidi won the ridden Welsh championships on the pony – known affectionately as Boots – which she bred with partner Justin Davis at the Popsters stud at Wellington Farm and was surprised when the prince asked to meet her.

She said: "At first we were told we would have to stop because he was coming in but then he said he wanted to meet the winner.

He was very interested and very knowledgeable and it was nice to be able to talk to somebody who really understands horses.

"He asked about the preparation and he said her turn-out was excellent.

"He asked about the name and I told him it was because she had a good booty – a good rear end.

"I wondered if I should have said that but he just laughed.

"It was a bit of shock to be on the 10 O'Clock News and the front pages of national newspapers."

Booty took the attention in her stride with all the photographers and the crowd cheering.

Heidi added: "She probably thought it was all for her. It's taken us two years to prepare her for competition and she won at Anglesey against horses that were twice her age."

There are currently around 40 horses at Popsters and Heidi said it was "lovely" to have won with a horse they had bred.