A disabled GB horse rider waited 15 years to marry her husband only to find she wouldn't be allowed a single guest due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

But the lack of family and friends was made up for by their kind gesture which involved a surprise mini-reception with a special guest of honour - four-legged Muddy.

Rachel Taylor, nee Collins, 49, from Sandwich , finally wed her partner of more than a decade, Roger Taylor, 50, at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, on July 23.

"We met in Derby and have been engaged for 14 years," she said. "Every time we went to get married we'd buy another horse."

The pair were not prepared to let the coronavirus pandemic hold them back any longer so decided to proceed despite the restrictions.

Their only plan following the private service was to stop off at their stables near Faversham to have some pictures taken with their horse Fine-time - or Muddy as he is known to his friends.

The 11-year-old is as good as a friend to the bride, who has been competing in paradressage for five years and representing GB for the last three. She rides Muddy every day and the pair were national champions at silver level in 2019 progressing them to gold level.

But upon their arrival, the newlyweds were delighted to see Muddy turned out as if he were ready to compete, along with a mini spread of food and champagne - entirely socially distanced.

Mrs Taylor said: "The gang at David Rumsey Dressage had organised it all; a buffet, cake, balloons and champagne.

"I knew he would be there but I didn't know he would turned out as beautifully as he was.

"They'd bathed him and plaited his mane and made him look really clean and shiny. He just looked so beautiful.

"What they did for us and having him there, it made everything for us.

"Muddy and I have a really great partnership. He's like one of my closest friends."

"It was such a lovely thing for them to do, and Roger and I were totally overwhelmed by their kindness."

Mrs Taylor, a housing development manager at Dover District Council, was born with arthrogryposis - physical deformities to both her legs, spine and right arm.

It affects her joints and muscles, limiting her strength, co-ordination and range of movements.

Next week, she and Muddy will be competing at the Parafestival in Solihull, their first national event since lockdown, and have set their sights on the Paris Paralympics in 2024.

Mrs Taylor said: "Muddy and I have a really great partnership. He's like one of my closest friends."

She has thanked Sally Scott, a friend from the stables who took the photographs.

"They're the perfect memories of our day," she added.

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