Every little girl dreams of having a pony — and Zara Phillips has made that dream come true for her young niece, Savannah Phillips. Equestrian Zara, who picked up a silver medal with the GB eventing team at London 2012, has given the adorable two-year-old a Shetland pony of her very own, perhaps keen to pass on the family's well-documented love of horses.
According to the Telegraph, Savannah's father Peter revealed, "Zara was insistent on giving her a little Shetland pony. Savannah loves riding him. So yes, it seems we've passed on the 'horse gene' to the next generation. "Savannah and her little sister Isla, one, are already two of Zara's biggest fans on the competitive circuit. Along with their dad Peter and mum Autumn Kelly, the two girls are often seeing watching their aunt compete, and attended the Badminton Horse Trails earlier this month.
Zara, 32, who has been married to former England rugby star Mike Tindall since 2011, clearly dotes on the two girls, and is often seen giving them kisses and cuddles. Now she seems keen to share her love of all things equine with her young niece.Should she be bitten by the horse riding bug, little Savannah has another strong female role model within the family. Her grandmother Princess Anne is also an accomplished equestrian; she has won two silver medals and one gold at the European Eventing Championships, and was the first member of the British royal family to compete in the Olympics when she rode at the 1976 Games in Montreal.