EQUESTRIAN enthusiast Michelle Smith used her expertise to make her mark at the Lord Mayor s Show in London on Saturday. Michelle, who owns Priory Carriages in Bloomfield Road, Harpenden, drove dignitaries from the Worshipful Company of Carmen in her semi

EQUESTRIAN enthusiast Michelle Smith used her expertise to make her mark at the Lord Mayor's Show in London on Saturday.

Michelle, who owns Priory Carriages in Bloomfield Road, Harpenden, drove dignitaries from the Worshipful Company of Carmen in her semi-State coach drawn by a pair of dark Hungarian horses in the procession.

Joined by two of her grooms, she said the Carmen Company were very friendly and the crowds gave enthusiastic support despite the poor weather conditions.

Michelle learnt to ride from the age of six, moving on later to carriage driving. When a spinal injury meant she could no longer ride, she concentrated on carriage driving and set up her own company Priory Carriages.

Earlier this year, Priory Carriages was invited by the Worshipful Company of Carmen - a charitable and ceremonial livery company of the City of London for nearly 500 years - to take part in the traditional Ceremony of Cart Marking, held annually at London's Guildhall.

The event was so successful that Michelle and her staff were invited to take part in the Lord Mayor's Show.

Priory Carriages can also be seen at the annual switching on of the Harpenden lights on Sunday, November 22, and she will be taking Santa to visit children at the Riding for Disabled stables near Stevenage in December.