Lets not forget this is in the Mirror guys! The pony was 29 which is an amazing age and I am sure he was given a very happy retirement. I should imagine there was more to him being PTS than a broken heart but it doesn't make such a good story.
We have a family friend who used to work there in the 90's and she gave me a private tour of the stables , so i must have met him at one point! Such sad news.