Sovereign is given a pint of stout every day

Sovereign, a 39-year-old Irish draft cross, is making a good recovery, according to Kenstud Pony Rescue in Belper, Derbyshire. "When he first came to us, his ribs were like razor blades," centre manager Wendy Manger said.

She said the horse loves the bitter-flavoured, dark-coloured drink, but never has enough to get drunk.

Never tipsy

The Irish draft cross arrived at the animal sanctuary after his owner died in September 2003.

"He was desperately thin and very lethargic and had lost a lot of weight because he was mourning for his owner who had just died," Mrs Manger said.

He likes his stout in his feed, there is no doubt about that Wendy Manger Kenstud Pony Rescue

Staff tried several methods to nurse him back to health, but the most effective tonic was a pint of stout a day.

"He only has a pint a day - and we also add an herbal remedy called milk thistle what helps repair the liver there is any damage," Ms Manger said.

She says the stout never makes the horse inebriated, unlike some animals that eat too much fermented fruit in orchards.

"I have had horses that grazed in orchards and you soon know when they are tipsy.

"He never gets enough to cause a problem," she said.