Farewell to showing supremo

Joan Gibson, former president of the British Show Pony Society and its chairman for 20 years, died on Saturday, 6 September at Oakham, Rutland, aged 86.

Joan was one of Britain’s leading judges of horses and ponies and one of the most popular personalities in the showing world.

In 1975, she was the first woman to be invited by the Hunters’ Improvement Society to judge at its annual Newmarket stallion show.

A devoted foxhunter, she was joint-master of the Cottesmore from 1976-89.

A memorial service will be held on 19 September at 3pm, at Langham Parish Church, Oakham.

• Joan’s full obituary can be read in a future issue of Horse & Hound.