HIGH-stepping hackney horse Brookfield Sheeza Lady has written herself into the record books by clinching a hat-trick of Hackney Horse of the Year titles for a Fair Oak father and daughter team.

Owned, bred and driven by 64-year-old Joey Peters, of Brookfield Fruit Farm, Allington Lane, the 15-year-old mare has been trained in recent years by his daughter, Pauline. The winning combination scooped Hackney Horse of the Year titles in 1996, 2001 and now, 2002.

Sheeza Lady is the first mare to have ever won the title three times but is now looking forward to a life of luxury out in the fields.

For shortly after winning the 2002 title at the Royal Show Ground at Stoneleigh, near Coventry, the Peters announced that their three-time champion would be going out at the top and heading for retirement.

Pauline, 40, said: "We were in the ring and we just decided. This year the cream of the country was there and we had beaten the lot.

"That was the pinnacle. She has won every championship there is and to do the hat-trick is something that you dream about. She has given so much pleasure that it is only right to take her out at the top."

But Pauline admitted: "I broke my heart. I was choking before but when it was announced and dad did a final lap of honour we were all in tears. She's one in a million."

The Peters have been showing Sheeza Lady since the mare was four years old and have gone through something of a role reversal with Pauline and her dad swapping the training and coachman duties. The duo also won two Hackney Horse of the Year titles with Sheeza Lady's mother, Brookfield Harvest Moon.

Mr Peters, who has been breeding horses for 40 years, said: "Her mum was good but I would say this is the best I have ever had. "