During Queen Elizabeth's 1978 state visit to Germany, there was confusion among Germans about what gift to present to Her Majesty. In a tactful manner, Elizabeth made it clear what she desired: "Two horses fitting for a queen, please." Initially bewildered, the German officials were astonished at her request, as horses were deemed more valuable than traditional gifts since World War II.
This anecdote highlighted the Queen's unique values, where she found joy in horses and corgis above all else.
Family business
From the age of three, the future Queen of the Commonwealth showed a passion for horses, first getting on a horse at a young age. At the age of four, her grandfather George V gifted her her first pony, Peggy. From then on, Elizabeth spent her life riding horses, defying doctor's recommendations in her later years.
The Royal Stud at Sandringham, Norfolk, was founded by the Queen's great-grandfather, Albert Edward VII, Prince of Wales. In 1952, upon the death of her father George VI, Elizabeth inherited the family's horse racing and breeding business.
Over her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth not only enjoyed horseback riding but also professionally bred horses at a stud farm. Under her leadership, the family enterprise became a leading force in the British breeding industry, caring for around 100 horses each year.
Elizabeth's horses at the ceremony of carrying out the banner
Every year, the Horse Guards Parade in London holds a ceremony to display the colours. Elizabeth made her debut in the event in 1947, riding her bay police horse, Tommy, and impressing everyone with her poise.
When George VI fell ill, Elizabeth stepped in for her father, riding his horse Winston for four years. Named after Winston Churchill, the horse became a favourite. After the king's death in 1952, Elizabeth led the parade for the first time as sovereign. Unfortunately, Winston had to be put down in 1957 after a serious fall.
Replacing Winston was Imperial, a three-year-old gelding that Elizabeth rode in subsequent parades. In 1969, a delegation from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police presented Elizabeth with a black mare named Burmese. Born in Fort Welsh, Saskatchewan, Canada, Burmese was highly trained in Ottawa and served the Queen in parades until 1986.
Burmese's excellent training as a police horse proved invaluable in 1981 when there was an incident involving blank shots. Despite a moment of fear and uncertainty from Burmese, Elizabeth's self-control saved the day.
During a casual meeting with President Reagan in 1982, Elizabeth rode Burmese, while Reagan received a calm 8-year-old police gelding named Centennial.
After Burmese's retirement, Elizabeth opted not to train another horse. Instead, she participated in parades riding Queen Victoria's 1842 phaeton, drawn by grey Windsor horses.
In 2005, a statue depicting the Queen riding Burmese was unveiled in front of the Saskatchewan Legislature, and Elizabeth attended the event.
Horse racing
Choir Boy, a royal horse, claimed victory in the 1953 Royal Hunt Cup, while Royal Landau secured first place in the 1954 Rous Memorial Stakes. Queen Elizabeth experienced great success in horse racing, with four winners at Ascot week in 1957. She was also named champion owner in both 1954 and 1957, a rare accomplishment for a reigning monarch in Britain. Throughout the years, her horses have triumphed in every British classic race, with the notable addition of the Prix de Diane in France in 1974. In 2013, her filly Estimate won the prestigious Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. The Royal Horses have been highly successful, with 556 wins in 3,441 races since 1988, earning the Queen £8.5 million in prize money. In 2021, Elizabeth achieved a personal best of 36 wins, ranking her in the top 20 owners of thoroughbred horses. Despite her many triumphs, the Epsom Derby remains the elusive victory that has yet to come her way.
Horse Breeding
The matings of the horses were planned, schedules were drawn up several months in advance. Cameras were installed in the stables to monitor the birth of foals. The Queen herself named all her horses.
She often attended the Tattersalls horse auction, bought the most promising fillies and stallions, and monitored their transportation, feeding and maintenance.
“She loves breeding,” said her racing manager, John Warren. “If Queen Elizabeth weren't queen, she would be a great trainer, she has a keen eye for horses,” he adds.
Queen's Legacy
In September 2022, Elizabeth's son Charles III inherited approximately 100 horses from her estate. Within a few months, he sold 30 of them at auctions, earning around £2.25 million. Despite the sales, Charles still owns many horses that are kept at stud farms or racecourses. Observers believe that he will continue to sell off more of the late queen's horses gradually, possibly up to 50% of them, in order to maximise profits.
The Guardian has conducted a conservative evaluation of the Queen's inheritance of breeding horses and racehorses left to Charles III. The assessment is based on the average market prices of similar horses in the past. Stallions from top bloodlines such as Frankel, Dubawi, Kingman, and Sea The Stars are particularly valuable, with their offspring currently in Charles III's stables. Broodmares like Estimate, Approximate, Nathra, and Diploma are considered even more valuable, with nearly all of them holding price tags in the seven figures. In total, the thoroughbred horse assets in the royal stables are estimated to be worth at least £27 million.
Queen Elizabeth's Favourite Horses
Alongside participating in Trooping the Colour and racehorses, Elizabeth had a special fondness for her ponies, particularly Emma. In her final year, the queen rode this pony regularly. At her funeral, Emma was escorted by Terry Pendry, her trusted head groom of 25 years. As the queen's casket passed by, Emma bid a heartfelt farewell by raising her leg and touching the ground with her hoof.
Among the queen's favourite horses was Doublet, a horse she bred, and Princess Anne rode to victory at the European Eventing Championships in 1971. Terry Pendry humorously remarked that Elizabeth had a hand in both horse and rider's success. In an interview with Horse & Hound magazine, Terry Pendry and John Warren mentioned 13 of the queen's beloved horses, but in truth, she cherished every one of them. Whether acquired with love or born under her watchful eye, each horse was like a child to her, providing solace and fulfilling her dreams.
In the year of the Queen's 90th birthday, a statue of Elizabeth with her foals was created and installed at Newmarket Hippodrome by sculptors Etienne Millner and Charlie Langton. 12 models of the statue were made, the first of which was presented to the Queen, and the last was bought by a buyer from Hong Kong at the Tattersalls 2022 auction for 164 thousand guineas.