A Deeside charity which uses horsemanship to help injured veterans recover from the horrors of war has welcomed a royal arrival.
Horseback UK, at Dinnet, near Aboyne, announced one of its horses had given birth to a foal.
Mare Chexys Gold gave birth to the newborn earlier this week.
And the filly is also the daughter of Balmoral Hercules, one of the Queen’s horses.
The charity will now continue to look after the healthy foal, which has yet to be named, and it will subsequently be trained and used to help ex-service personnel restore their confidence.
The charity’s co-founder Emma Hutchison said: “We’re so excited and delighted that everything went well.
“Chexy is being a fantastic mum and we are looking forward to the journey the foal will now take.”
The charity, which is supported by the Princess Royal, uses horsemanship to assist physically and psychologically-wounded former soldiers, sailors and airmen to move on with their lives.
The mother was an American Quarter Horse, which competed in the European Reining Championships.
She came to the charity in 2009 after retiring.
Meanwhile, Balmoral Hercules lives on the estate and is one of the monarch’s prestigious Highland Ponies.
It is a cross with a quarter horse and a highland pony and has proved to be a huge asset to the charity.
HorseBack UK explained the two breeds bring the calmness of the quarter horse and the strength of the pony without increasing the size of the animal.