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Driving ambassadors Blue Chip is extremely excited to be able to welcome not only one, but two carriage driving families into their newly selected Brand Ambassador team for 2022. With more than 600 entries from 12 countries, competition for a place was hard fought.

sport which they are clearly very dedicated to. It reminds us that great things can be achieved when we work together. The personalities of the individuals themselves was also an important deciding factor.

As a brand they currently offer support to a wide range of riders, especially those at the start of their careers, but they have rarely provided support for carriage driving, so this was a fantastic opportunity to be able to showcase the sport while supporting two very deserving families.

Having carriage driving represented amongst our brand ambassador team provides an opportunity for us to share an insight into a sport which is less mainstream but still incredibly exciting and technical. We are looking forward to creating a platform for us all to learn more about carriage driving and all it entails.”

Anna Franklin from Blue Chip says: “As a family business, we loved the generational connection that these families have to a

Welcome to the Blue Chip Brand Ambassador Team 2022 Rachael and Leah Marshall, and David Taylor and family.

Leonie Marshall April 3rd 1935 – Nov 10th 2021

The equestrian world has lost another great wealth of knowledge in dressage and horse mastership with the recent passing of Leonie Marshall after a short spell in hospital just 10 months after the death of her late husband Barry Marshall.

Leonie Mary Marshall was an international dressage rider, former List 1 judge, author and carriage driver. She was 86 years old and had been driving her pony, Amber, on the day she was taken to hospital.

She has been a major figure in the horse world for more than 70 years and her whole life has been spent with horses. It can safely be said that many riding, driving, and dressage partnerships owe their successes to the foundations that Leonie has laid when teaching them. She always continued to teach her pupils the principles of dressage – coaching the horse and rider as one unit, and treating every person she taught with the same level of commitmentwhether they were an international or grassroots competitor.

Leonie’s was a rich and colourful life. She was an extremely talented horsewoman, a prolific writer, and most importantly a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her family is still coming terms with their loss and without doubt her influence will be sadly missed, and her absence in the carriage driving world will not go unnoticed.

A full obituary detailing Leonie’s remarkable life can be found on the Carriage Driving website: www.carriage-driving.com

6 www.carriage-driving.com

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor, I am hoping your readers may be able to help discover more about our painting of this elegant lady, circa 1900. There is a signature with a monogram signature/owner's stamp? Lower right side of the work, it is mixed media on board 14.5"x17.5".

I'll keep my fingers crossed, in the hope that we may get some clues from your readership.

Best wishes, Peter Sherwin, Bath

Shire horse show opts to trot to Notts for outdoor event in 2022

The world’s largest gathering of Shire horses is set to take place at Newark Showground in Nottinghamshire for the first-time this year. It will be the first time that the show – which has been running almost continuously every year for more than 140 years - has been staged at Newark Showground.

In common with so many events, the 2020 and 2021 National Shire Horse Shows were cancelled due to Covid-19.

The Shire Horse Society,

which runs the event, is hoping it will be third time lucky when the show goes ahead during the weekend of 12th and 13th March. It usually attracts more than 200 horses which compete in a range of classes in hand, in harness and being ridden.

A fascinating event for all the family, it also features trade stands and other stands, plus parades and displays.  For tickets and more information visit www.shirehorse.org.uk

Show returns to Suffolk After two years of cancellation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, plans are now well underway for this year’s Suffolk Show. It will return on Tuesday 31st May and Wednesday 1st June, a change from their usual days of the week because of the extended bank holiday weekend to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

With classes for Pleasure Driving, Private Driving, Trade & Vintage Turnouts, Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry and Four In-Hand Coaching, there is something for all driving enthusiasts. Following positive feedback from the last show, a separate warm-up area will once again be provided away from the busy main collecting ring. The showing rings are at the heart of the showground, attracting a wide and appreciative audience and this appreciation continues through the picturesque local villages where the coaching marathon is widely publicised, ensuring support along the route for this impressive sight.  For further information: www.

suffolkshow.co.uk. Driving entries close on 25th March.

February | March 2022