This image was captured for the Queen’s 96th Birthday; Her Majesty with two of her fell ponies, Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale. © The Royal Family
By Equestrian Life
As many Australians woke this morning, they were greeted with the sad news that the longest reigning British monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth II, had passed away overnight.
According to the Palace, the Queen died peacefully at her beloved Balmoral Castle Thursday afternoon, exactly 17 months since her husband Prince Philip passed away.
Her son, King Charles, released a statement saying: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
The Queen held a lifelong passion for horses, which she shared with her family, and her wide influence on modern equestrian sport is unparalleled.
Her deep love of horses created a special connection between herself and the wider equestrian community as, at the end of the day, she was simply another girl who had fallen under the spell of these beautiful animals.
Her interests in racehorses, showing, hunting, polo, eventing, natural horsemanship, and of course her beloved native ponies were all a large part of her life.
Her passion for horses was unmistakable. It was said that at Trooping the Colour — her official birthday parade — she would always welcome the horses back to Buckingham Palace with a sugar lump.
Equestrian Life extends our heartfelt condolences to The Royal Family, and all those who are mourning her loss.
Partial source: Equestrian Australia
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
