Maverick the pony kicks up a fuss as Anne visits stables in South Africa

Princess Anne embarked on a two-day trip to South Africa this week where she met Maverick the pony.

Amidst Cape Town’s 33C heat, the Princess Royal visited the South African Riding for the Disabled Association, presenting rosettes to young riders.

The princess first visited the association in 1994 and on Tuesday saw some of its 14 ponies in a stable and joked when she came across a grey pony so anxious to get out of his stall he was kicking the door.

Anne looked at the animal and joked with its groom: “Oh dear, interrupting another smooth running day”, but when told the name of the disruptive pony, she replied: “He’s actually called Maverick?”