Newark: World champion in carriage driving offers taster sessions at her Long Bennington academy

A world champion in her sport is encouraging others to give it a try ­— but warns they may become hooked.

Carriage driver Sue Mart, of Bennington Carriages, is offering taster sessions at her academy in Long Bennington.

Sue said the offer was open to all-comers, from anyone interested in taking up horse-drawn carriage driving to those who wanted to improve their skills.

Sue is a qualified coach and keen competitor, whose company is proud of its Royal Warrant for supplying carriages to the royal family.

She is harnessing up her former championship pony, Zac, for the taster driving sessions at her base on the outskirts of the village, where there are extensive outdoor facilities.

Sue said the emphasis was on fun and safety, demonstrating how accessible the sport was, and its suitability for all ages and abilities.

“I get asked a lot whether it’s difficult, what equipment do you need, how much does it cost and, very simply, where do I begin,” she said.

“I can answer all those questions and go one better by offering the chance to come and try it with a top-class pony who really knows his job.

“It’s a great opportunity for someone who perhaps cannot ride any more to try another equestrian sport.

“Others may want to bring their own pony and carriage for tuition and we can offer stabling if required.

“We have found that after the first session a lot of people are hooked on it and we can then put together a schedule of five lessons, outlining an achievable goal at the end.

“For anyone wishing to continue their tuition, we offer Zoom meetings to help and support them on their carriage driving journey.

“We keep a detailed log of progress with a certificate at the end.”

The two-hour sessions cost £145, and include an overview of carriage driving, including pony, harness and carriage, and the chance to take the reins and drive a Bennington carriage.

Bennington Driving Academy will be open as soon as the current lockdown eases, and will then operate to meet relevant covid regulations.

Sue said booking a session now would give people something different to look forward to when restrictions eased.

For more information, call Sue Mart on 01400 281280 or go to www.benningtoncarriages.co.uk