WINNING the lottery is something that most people can only dream of but Warwick couple Neville and Brenda Black have come pretty darn close to doing just that.

Three years ago the couple took a chance with what they thought was a barren mare at a clearance sale at the Warwick Saleyards and just weeks ago the bargain purchase gave the couple an unexpected gift.

The 11-year-old mare has just foaled for the first time, despite indications that she was unable to foal.

Mr Black was the sole bidder on the mare - named Don't Blush Now - and happily parted with $700 in return for the horse.

He said he was willing to pay substantially more for the horse and was surprised when bidding didn't progress past his initial bid.

"We were the only bidders but we knew she was well-bred and we wanted a companion for the stallion," she said.

"I said $700 and thought bidding would take off from there but it didn't."

Although his initial intentions were to secure a companion for his stallion Romeo of Boyland, he soon became determined to have the mare foal.

Mr Black said the stallion comes from an esteemed line, sharing blood with Melbourne Cup winners such as Sir Tristram.

The couple brought the stallion to the Warwick area around seven years ago after they sold their stud, which was located between Canungra and Beaudesert.

When she was purchased by the Blacks, the mare was in poor condition, with the couple saying she appeared to be neglected and malnourished.

They spent a lot of time caring for the horse and got her eating properly to improve her health.

An optimistic Mr Black would often tell people the mare was pregnant, however for years he was wrong and family and friends started to lose faith that she would ever foal.

Even Mrs Black admitted she thought the plans of a foal were not going to be realised.

"I had given up hope that it would happen and our son at Yangan said by the time this foal's born it could be run as a four-year-old," Mrs Black said.

When the mare started to fatten up, they called in the vet, who confirmed their inkling that the 11-year-old mare was an expectant mother for the first time.

"We triggered sometime ago that she would be and Chris Reardon just came in and said she was pregnant," Mr Black said.

Although they don't want to divulge the foal's name, the couple said they have nicknamed the newest addition to their family Roady.

The couple have sought an appraisal on what price the mare and foal could reach now and while they didn't want to disclose the dollar amount, they said it was substantially more than what they paid for the mare three years ago.

Mr Black said the couple were absolutely over the moon with the result of their clearance sale bargain and couldn't believe their luck.

"It's like winning the lottery," Mrs Black said.

Despite their windfall the couple said they have no plans of leaving the Warwick area, saying they love living in the Rose City.

"We absolutely love it here - why would you want to go anywhere else," Mr Black said.

"At our age we don't want a caravan but I wouldn't mind renting a campervan and travelling around for a while."

The couple hope to have the mare foal again in the near future and plan to sell the three together.