In photos: Queen Elizabeth and her love for horses
The Queen could be forgiven her racing metaphors, for everyone knew that her love of horses predated her love for her children. She was four years old when she received her first horse, a sturdy Shetland pony called Peggy, as a birthday gift from her grandfather, King George V. In her nineties, the Queen was still riding her beloved Fell ponies through the grounds at Windsor Castle, a scarf tied over her hair in place of the hard hat that her courtiers could never convince her to wear.
Photo from April 1935 of Princess Elizabeth on horseback with the riding master in Windsor Great Park, Windsor, England.The Associated Press
In this undated file photo Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles ride horses in the park of Windsor Castle.-/AFP/Getty Images
President Ronald Reagan rides with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle near London, June 8, 1982.Handout ./Reuters
Photo taken on May 13, 2011 Britain's Queen Elizabeth pets one of her horses during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, Berkshire.ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
Britain's Queen Elizabeth rides Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell Pony, in Windsor Home Park, west of London, May 31, 2020.STEVE PARSONS/AFP/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth watches the horses from her Range Rover at The Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park on May 13, 2022 in Windsor, England.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
British Queen Elizabeth holds her Fell ponies, Bybeck Nightingale (right) and Bybeck Katie in this handout picture released April 20, 2022 by The Royal Windsor Horse Show to mark the occasion of her 96th birthday.henrydallalphotography.com/PA Wi/Reuters
Queen Elizabeth is seen with Canadian Solicitor-General George McIlraith and RCMP Commissioner F.A. Lindsay (centre) at Windsor Castle today, April 28, 1969, where she received the 7-year-old black mare, 'Burmese'.The Associated Press
Frank Stronach raises the trophy beside Queen Elizabeth after his horse Awesome won the 138th running of the Queen's Plate at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto in 1997.Andrew Wallace/Reuters
Britain's Queen Elizabeth (L) smiles as she stands with her horse Estimate after it won the Gold Cup during Ladies' Day at the Royal Ascot horse racing festival at Ascot, southern England.
Racehorses are led around the parade ring at Doncaster Racecourse September 11, 2022 as Britain's Queen Elizabeth is displayed on the big screen following her passing.JOHN CLIFTON/Reuters