Queen receives Lifetime Achievement award

The Queen has received an award from the FEI in recognition of her support of equestrian sport.

Keen equestrian

This is the first FEI Lifetime Achievement award, put in place by Princess Haya during her final year as FEI president. She presented the white gold and diamond brooch, with nine interlinked horseshoes, to the Queen at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.

The Queen has ridden all her life. She was given her first pony – a Shetland mare called Peggy – by her grandfather King George V on her fourth birthday, and she is still a keen equestrian today, aged 88.

One of her favourite horses was Burmese, who was a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1969 when they came to perform at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The Queen rode Burmese side-saddle for 18 years at the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Family affair

The Queen is also a racing enthusiast, and has bred more than 1,600 winners. She also breeds native ponies, many of which are shown at Royal Windsor, which she hosts each year in her back garden.

The Queen has passed on her passion for horses to her family. Princess Anne evented, winning the European Champinships in 1971 on a horse bred by the Queen, which her daughter Zara won 34 years later. Zara also won individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in 2006.

Princes Charles is a keen polo player, as are William and Harry.

True horsewoman

“She is a true horsewoman, who still rides whenever State business allows, and her knowledge of breeding and bloodlines is incredible,” said Princess Haya at the award ceremony.

“The bond between the Queen and horses is truly extraordinary and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to receive this very special FEI award in the Year of the Horse.”