The London Harness Horse Parade 2025

Pictured above: The Master with fellow Master Farrier and Master Loriner, plus the Farriers’ IPM, who was our host

The Master and Mistress Beverley attended the South of England Showground at Ardingly, West Sussex, on Easter Monday as guests of honour at The London Harness Horse Parade. The Company’s Charity Trustees make a sponsorship grant each year for this event and the Master was invited, along with the Master Loriner and Master Farrier, to present the prize rosettes to dozens of exhibitors and join the organisers for lunch.

The Parade consisted of every size of horse from huge and magnificent Shires down to really small Shetland ponies. The display of immaculate carts, carriages and drays was equally superb. The Young’s Brewery dray was drawn by a set of four Shires in an unusual two-in-line plus a pair (pictured above). There was also a beautifully maintained undertaker’s black carriage drawn by a jet black Friesian (pictured below), and numerous brightly decorated fruiterers’ carts.

The London Harness Horse Society dates from the 1850s and its objective is to improve the general condition, treatment and management of horses, ponies, and donkeys. It encourages humane and intelligent interest in the wellbeing and welfare of these working animals.

Some excellent news shared by the Society’s Parade Chairman, is that HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO, Sophie Wessex, has recently agreed to become the Society’s Patron for the Parade.

This beautiful horse drawing a milk cart is appropriately named Gold Top – note the wavy ‘permed’ mane