The owner of a horse who starred in a prize-winning competition is outraged that the photographer didn’t ask her permission.
Thirty-one-year-old David Bellis, from Prestatyn, took a selfie with his three-year-old son Jacob on a public footpath in North Wales.
The picture was “photobombed” by a horse called Betty in a field behind.
Pleased with the image he’d snapped, Mr Bellis entered it into a Thomson Holiday competition called “Made Me Smile”, set up to combat Blue Monday misery.
The photo netted David and his son a £2,000 holiday.
However, Betty’s owner Nicola Mitchell was less impressed.
Ms Mitchell criticised David, saying she had not given permission to take a photo of the horse, despite the fact the shot was taken from a public footpath.
Mr Bellis reportedly received messages from Ms Mitchell’s friends, labelling his actions “shameful” and that she deserved some of the winnings.
“Jacob is really upset and has been crying and asking me if we are not going to be allowed to go on holiday any more,” Mr Bellis told local press.
“I don’t understand why Nicola is so annoyed about it. I was on a public path that everyone uses to go to the local school and everyone sees the horse there.
“At first they thought I was winning £2,000 cash and were saying I should give them half.”
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Social media users have blasted the owner’s reaction and have used the photo as their profile picture to support David.
Thomson Holidays said it will honour the prize.
“Despite questions over ‘foal play’, Mr Bellis and his family will be getting the £2,000 holiday voucher from our #MadeMeSmile competition,” read a statement from the holiday company.
