Page 14 - June 2022

The Queen is an accomplished equestrian and a respected breeder of bloodstock and race horses. She has also
worked to protect native British breeds, with an emphasis on native ponies and Thoroughbreds. This statue in
Canada pays tribute not only to the Queen but to what she loves the best--horses.

Image by Brigette Werner for Pixabay
The Queen missed the opening of Parliament in 2022 and was given her own pony when she was 4.
for only the 3rd time in her 70 years on the throne. Since that time she has never been off the back
Episodic moments of mobility issues and a recent of a horse, and has continued to ride, although
bout with COVID and resulting weakness meant that these days her mounts are smaller ponies. She
she sent the Prince of Wales, Charles, to read her once took President Ronald Reagan, also a great
speech. People had then wondered if the Queen rider, on a riding tour where they talked and
would be up to attending the many events that enjoyed saddle time together.
would make up her Jubilee.
In 2018, the morning that her great grandson
The wondering stopped when it was time for the Prince Louis was born, the Queen, two days
Royal Windsor Horse Show, an event she has after her 92nd birthday, was out riding.
attended , since the beginning of the show, for 79
She has ridden sidesaddle in military uniform for
years. She arrived in a Range Rover, made her way
her official birthday parades and for Trooping
to her box, and was photographed clearly enjoying
the Color, been pulled in the State Coach , a gilt
every minute of the event, including when one of her
wood masterpiece commissioned by George III
ponies, took a trophy. Several days later, she was
in 1762, drawn by eight Windsor greys to her
back for the presentation of the Royal Windsor's
coronation ceremony in 1953, and like any
Horse Show Tribute, A Gallop through History, with
other punter has cheered on her horses and
1300 performers, 500 horses, an orchestra and
their jockeys at races like Royal Ascot and the
glittering with celebrities. This program was
Derby at Epsom Downs, the only race one of her
designed to showcase horses from many countries
horses has never been able to win.
and the Queen's lifelong passion for all of them.
The Queen is an avid horsewoman and has
When an announcer made a joke that she had missed
shared that love with her family members. She
the opening of Parliament but was in attendance for
has made sure that all the royal grandchildren
the Gallop, she smiled broadly, gave a wave, and was
have been started on ponies, when the time
clearly delighted to be in the best seat in the house.
was right, often with herself holding the leading
Elizabeth first put a "leg over" when she was three lines.
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