Six shire horse team to take part in ‘unique’ parade for the first time
Visitors to the annual London Harness Horse Parade next month will be to witness a first in the history of the event. The Waldburg team of six shire horses, which in November pulls the Lord Mayor of London’s gold state coach, is due to appear for the first time at the South of England Centre, Ardingly, on Easter Monday (April 18).
The London Harness Horse Parade at the Ardingly site is an amalgamation of The London Cart Horse Parade, which started in 1885, and the London Van Horse Parade, which started in 1904.
It depicts transport through the ages and moved from its London location to the purpose-built South of England Centre in 2006.
It is said that generations of carriage-driving families attend the event and that current resident WA Gilbey is a descendant of the founder of the London Cart Horse Parade, Sir Walter Gilbey Bart.
Parade secretary Jackie Shearman said: “The organisers are delighted to welcome the Waldburg team in conjunction with Young and Co to this year’s parade.
“The event is a chance for exhibitors to catch up with friends who support this unique event every year and to share the spectacle of their historic carriages and carts with the general public, all coming together for a wonderful Easter day out in the Sussex countryside.
“Enquiries and entries are coming in strongly now and we look set to have over 100 fine carriages, carts and vehicles in the
135th annual parade with a good cross-section of transport through the ages to entertain the spectators this Easter Monday.”
The 2022 parade will start at 9am with car exhibitors providing a static display. Gates will open at 8am for spectators to watch the exhibits being prepared, admire the historic and classic vehicles and visit the trade stands.
The main parade and presentation of prizes will take place following completion of judging and inspections later in the morning.
As well as the Waldburg team, the event is due to feature more than a hundred historic horse drawn carts and carriages, vintage and classic cars, tractors, vans and motorbikes.
Entry is £10 per adult. For more details, visit lhhp.co.uk