NEARLY 40 years ago, an eight-year-old mare took one look at her new home in Shaldon, and decided it was not for her.

Misty did not like the look of the field, or the other two horses in it.

She decided there and then there was no place like home, so jumped the fence and started the long trek back to her old field in Dawlish.

She trotted alone about five miles along main roads, through side streets, and eventually arrived back at her favourite field at Holcombe, none the worse.

She apparently exactly retraced the route her new owner, 14 year-old Kate Pottage of the Shipwrights Arms had taken when she bought her this week.

‘Obviously Misty is not going to stay in the field at Shaldon, and would keep going back, so we decided she can stay at Holcombe for the time being,’ said Teignmouth High School pupil Kate.

‘I had been riding her for some time before I bought her, and she is a very good horse. She just likes the field she is used to best.

‘Once she got back there, she was perfectly alright again.

Misty’s homeward route took her over Shaldon Bridge, along fourth avenue, Deer Park Avenue, New Road and Oak Hill Cross Road.

The police received several calls from residents worried at seeing a riderless horse walking the streets, and were soon hot on her trail.

Four young boys also joined in the chase, but all attempts to stop Misty failed – until she reached the gate of her own field.

Her previous owner, Many Alford, 21, of Oakleigh Farm, said she was surprised when she heard that Mandy had found her way back on her own.

‘She is a very intelligent horse with a lot of character, and extremely strong minded.

‘She can be a bit of a madam I’m afraid, but I am sure it was nothing personal against Kate who she gets on with very well. Misty would not have liked two other mares in the field at Shaldon - she much prefers the men.

‘From what I heard she kept to the left-hand side of the road all the way back, but obviously we cannot have her doing this again because it could be dangerous to herself and other road users.‘We will keep her at Holcombe at least for the summer, and try and work out something in the autumn.’