Dawn Dodd-Noble, the well-known proprietor of Sandon Saddlery, Herts, died on 26 February.
She was 88 and had continued working for six days a week in the shop until last year.
Dawn opened the business in 1946 after leaving the Women’s Royal Navy Service (Wrens).
She was, said her civil partner, Gillian Roberton, “hugely knowledgeable” about saddlery and many riders would make the journey to Sandon for her expertise and extensive range of stock.
The Puckeridge met regularly at Dawn and Gillian’s house, and Dawn was still going to meets on foot in early January, shortly before being admitted to hospital.
Jenny Plumb, who works at Sandon Saddlery said it was “the end of an era”.
She added: “We are keeping the shop going and didn’t close [on the day Dawn died] as it would have annoyed her!”
Dawn’s funeral is at All Saints Church, Sandon on Thursday 7 March at 2.30pm.
