Julianne Aston says Sylvia is recovering well

Most of the work of the organisation involves finding homes for unwanted or abandoned horses coming to the end of their lives.

If nowhere else can be found, horses are brought to the farm at St Dogmaels to see out their days in peace.

The Society, formerly based in Warwickshire, relocated to west Wales in late 2001.

It believed that the seaside location of the 15 acre site would prove beneficial for many ailments suffered by the horses.

Terrible state

Sylvia, a 34-year-old mare, is one of the horses who is enjoying a new lease of life at the centre.

But society spokeswoman Julianne Aston says Sylvia arrived in a terrible state.

The horses at St Dogmaels have no other home

"She was found with a sleeping bag on which she had on 24 hours a day.

"She came into us very undernourished - you could see she was virtually like a toast rack with all her bones showing.

"And she had a seven-and-a-half hour journey down to us.

"She was very, very lethargic when she came in - but she's not now."

Active retirement

The retired horses enjoy the peace and quiet of their new home on the west Wales coast.

But staff at the centre do not allow the residents to become lazy.

The horses enjoy their seaside retirement home

After a good morning stretch many of the horses are ridden to keep them in good condition.

Some are still prize-winners as they are entered in veteran showing competitions.

The oldest resident of the farm is 41-year-old Soda.

A former champion showjumper, he also arrived at St Dogmaels in a terrible state but is now enjoying his retirement home.

The relocation of the Veteran Horse Society to west Wales could also result in a boost for local tourism.

It hopes to offer holidays to its members later this year, allowing owners to ride their veteran horses on the beach.