When postman Mick Neal arrived to deliver mail at the new entrance of Abingdon and Witney College, in Abingdon, he was in for a shock -- he was met by a woman on horseback.

Amy Jackson takes the mail from postman Mick Neal

Amy Jackson, 17, greeted Mr Neal to receive the first delivery of mail after the entrance was moved from Northcourt Road to Wootton Road and was given an equine-sounding postcode -- OX14 1GG.

The "GG" in question was Mostyn, a 15-year-old bay gelding more used to dressage than collecting the post.

Mostyn is owned by Pat Palmer, of Sandford, near Middle Barton, and cared for by equine students at the college's Witney stud farm and stables, near Hailey. Amy, from Stanton Harcourt, is a first-year student on the national diploma in horse management course. Mr Neal said: "When I was greeted by a horse my eyes nearly popped out. In 20 years of delivering the mail it was the first time I have been met by a rider on horseback.

"I thought he might be frightened when I handed over the letters but he took it in his stride. I usually back losers but Mostyn was a winner!"

Mostyn needed a bit of coaxing though -- the envelopes were not much to his taste.

Amy said: "He didn't like the letters but after a few mints he nibbled at a few of them. He is so well behaved and seemed to enjoy the experience."

The star turn is no Pony Express but Mostyn earned his spurs and received a stamp of approval from equine lecturer Jenny Crofts: "He was the celebrity and turned in a top performance. He loved posing for the cameras and clearly could take up a new role in life."