The Queen indulged in one of her favourite passions on the day of the 61st anniversary of her coronation. The active 88-year-old monarch joined her head groom Terry Prendry for a morning horse ride. Wearing jodhpurs, an overcoat and a colourful headscarf, the spritely Queen was pictured trotting around Windsor Great Park on Monday morning on her pony Carltonlima Emma.
Two knee operations in 2003 make it difficult for her to ride horses so she has since opted for fell ponies.
The Queen was pictured riding through Windsor Great Park on Monday
These days Terry is her frequent companion on riding excursions, but the equine-loving sovereign has also taught her four children to ride and gave lessons to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie at Balmoral.
The Queen’s love of horses is well known. She has a passion for riding but also a knowledge of equestrian matters that rivals that of the professionals who manage her 25 or so animals.
It was the same day that the Queen celebrated the 61st anniversary of her coronation
The royal is also a prolific racehorse breeder; in total, her horses have triumphed in around 1600 races, including all five British classics, with the exception of the Epsom Derby. She is still a regular at Ascot, where her horses compete, and attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.The Queen isn’t the only royal to spend time in the saddle recently. Her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry took part in the Audi Polo Challenge at the Coworth Park Polo Club over the weekend.
Prince William and Prince Harry at the polo on Sunday