Horses galore at Lord Mayor’s Show

More than 200 horses will be on parade at the Lord Mayor’s Show on Saturday (10 November 2001), including what are believed the largest Shires the country

One of London’s biggestspectaculars of the year, the Lord Mayor’s Show this year features around 200 horses.

The star attraction is the Lord Mayor’s coach, which is drawn by six black Shires from Young’s Brewery in Wandsworth.

Head horsekeeper at the brewery and driver of the six is Kevin Flynn, who says is pleased with the way the horses have behaved during rehearsals.

“All the horses are very well behaved and used to going about in traffic, so everything should be fine. We have a rehearsal in the week with the coach, but the show itself is the first time everything is put together – the harness and coach (both stored in the Museum of London) and the horses.

“On the day, you just have to hope everything is going to be OK. The horses seem to enjoythe event as well – they are aware something special is going on and are more excited than usual.

“In some ways the actual day is easier than the rehearsal because there is more space with everyone kept back.”

Saturday’s procession begins in the City of London at 10.50am when the Lord Mayor leaves the Guildhall for Mansion House.

The two-and-a-half-mile parade then sets of from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.

The celebrations end at 5pm when the Lord Mayor lights the touch paper for a feast of fireworks.

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