The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: A Pocket Full of Horses
- 17 May 2022
Queen Elizabeth II’s legendary love of horses was celebrated as part of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee event, A Gallop Through History. The magical celebration featured more than 1,000 performers and 500 horses, creating an awe-inspiring theatrical show at Windsor Castle.
The monarch’s longstanding love of horses was brought to life in the equestrian extravaganza in the grounds of the castle. Military displays by the Armed Forces of Britain, Europe and the Commonwealth and global equestrian displays combined with actors, musicians and dancers to entertain a delighted Queen Elizabeth.
The 96-year-old monarch was greeted by a standing ovation as she arrived at the packed arena. Her face lit up with a glorious smile while she watched the equine displays, as the Platinum Jubilee Event took the audience through more than five centuries of history. It featured horses in many different roles, as well as some of Her Majesty’s own equine friends. She smiled with delight when she saw her own much-loved fell pony, Carltonlima Emma, taking part.
All the Queen’s horses
The Queen’s love of horses dated back to her childhood, as she had many horses throughout her life. She spent an incredible 92 years in the saddle, after being given her first pony, a Shetland named Peggy, when she was just four. After her initial riding lessons, she became a proficient rider by the time she was six.
In 1944, aged 18, she received a silver trophy at the Royal Windsor Horse Show with her pony, Hans, for Best Turn Out Not Exceeding 13 Hands. She celebrated by letting her horse eat from the trophy!
In the 1960s, one of the Queen’s favourite horses was Betsy, a 15.2 h deep brown mare that Her Majesty rode all the time. Betsy was spirited and full of character. The Queen was said to love riding her.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police presented the Queen with another favourite horse, Burmese, in 1969. She rode the mare for Trooping the Colour for 18 years. Burmese retired in 1986 and lived the rest of her days at Windsor, before her death at the age of 28. She is buried in the grounds in a private area.
Sanction was the Queen’s favourite riding horse for many years. He was with her for her Golden Jubilee in 2002. He had a strong bond with Her Majesty, described as “telepathic”, as he seemed to know which way to go without her having to direct him.
In honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday, the Fell Pony Society brought 120 ponies to Windsor. They lined the route to the castle for Her Majesty, who was riding in a carriage with Prince Philip, pulled by his driving fell pony team and followed by Emma.
The Queen also owned a stable of race horses. One of her most famous, Estimate, a filly born in 2009, won the Royal Ascot Queen’s Vase as a three-year-old. She also won the Sagaro Stakes as a four-year-old and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
Tribute to Her Majesty
At the launch of the Gallop Through History extravaganza, Sir Mike Rake, the Platinum Jubilee Advisory Board chairman, praised the Queen’s “unwavering devotion” and “leadership” during her 70 years on the throne.
Touching upon the “dark and troubling times” in recent months, he spoke of her “steadiness” and told the delighted 5,000-strong crowd of how Her Majesty deserved “recognition and celebration”.
She has, without question, been a queen that the United Kingdom can be truly proud of.
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