A CENTURIES old May Day custom reared its head in Minehead this week for its annual four-day celebration. And this year the original Sailors Hobby Horse was joined by a newcomer - a pint sized version of the traditional horse. The baby hobby horse was made, like its forefather, from withy sticks lashed together with tarred cord into the shape of a boat with a dome-shaped head and a tin painted face. Junior custodian and secretary Sophie James made the smaller horse, which helped launch the start of the celebrations on Tuesday. Hobby horse spokesman Christopher Thresher said the new addition would hopefully make an annual appearance. "It's all gone fantastically well this year,' he said. The original horse, which weighs around 100cwt and is carried by one man, could be seen in its traditional venues of the Old Ship Aground on the Quay, at White Cross for the crowning of the May Queen at Cher Steep for 'the bootie' and in nearby Dunster. Money raised in donations during its outings will go to the Minehead branch of the RNLI and to a home in the town run by the charity Mencap. Photo: Steve Guscott.