A shire horse born and bred at a farm in Oakworth is taking horse shows in America by storm after being named champion of champions at a state fair in Colorado.

Providence Jake, a mighty four year old shire horse, was bred by Joyce Pickles at her farm in Oakworth and was exported to America where he has been shown ever since.

Joyce, who now owns six horses, including Sandholme Lady Jasmine, Jake's mother, says she is surprised he has done so well because when he was a foal he would not suckle milk from his mother.

Jake was hand fed about 40 pints of milk per day every two hours. Joyce says: "He was not getting as much as he would off his mother. We never showed him because he never looked 100 per cent, so we are very pleased that he has gone on so well."

Joyce learnt about Jake's success after his owner, Arlin Wareing, from Blackfoot, Idaho, wrote to her. In the brief letter Mr Wareing says Jake is 'a tremendous horse' and is still growing despite having topped six feet to his shoulder.

Jake was crowned the Grand Champion Shire Stallion at the 1999 National Shire Show in Peublo, Colorado, and Champion Stallion over all breeds at the Colorado state fair, where he was also best horse of the show.

Joyce says: "When you sell horses on you very rarely hear how they are going on if they go abroad, so it was very nice."

Joyce hopes to meet Mr Wareing for the first time at this weekend's National Shire show in Peterborough.

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