Members of BDS Shropshire had a beautiful late summer day for the last drive of what has been a very strange season. Eleven turnouts gathered in the farmyard at Rodington before setting off on a drive of either eight or twelve miles with a halfway stop at the Haughmond pub in Upton Magna where refreshments were available and the horses were able to have a rest. Our route took us through quiet sunny lanes with the leaves just beginning to turn to their autumn colours.

The wide variety of turnouts showed once again that carriage driving truly offers something for everyone. We had a team of four horses with Russell Hand and family and horse pairs with Philip Holder and Tony and Carol Gregory, while Bryony and Mike Cowie brought their Hackney horse Red. Cobs and ponies were driven by Sue and Ian Cole, Jennifer Marren and Helen James, Felicity Stubbs and Avril Pluck, Edith Hockenhull, Claudia Bunn, Pauline Traill, and last but by no means least Becky and Luke Seabury with miniature Shetland Moses.

On returning to the yard rosettes were presented to all participants and once again we enjoyed the now familiar socially distanced picnic.

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make the drive possible. Photos courtesy of Tony Gregory, Nat Toft, Luke Seabury and Kath Morris.