Shortly before her death at the age of 96, Queen Elizabeth went for a ride on her favourite pony, Emma – and made a rather poignant remark during the ride, her long-standing stud groom has revealed.
At her funeral weeks later, the nation was in tears at the image of Teddy Pendry taking 24-year-old fell pony Emma to say final farewells to the Queen at Windsor Castle as her funeral procession went by.
Mr Pendry recalled the Queen’s last ride on her beloved Emma to the Rosebud With Gyles Brandreth podcast.
He said: ”I had an inkling that was probably the last time I was going to see her. When I used to lift her off her pony she was getting lighter and lighter and frailer and frailer.
‘As she aged I used to have to once a year put another step on it. She could go up and step on to Emma, but I always used to have to lift her off.’
Seemingly understanding this would be her last ride on Emma, the Queen made a poignant remark to Mr Pendry.
‘I was on my feet walking round with her, and she looked down to me and she said, “This hasn’t happened to me since I was a princess.”
‘I said, “What?” She said, “Someone walking alongside me like this.”
‘And I said, “If you want me to step away I’ll step away, or I’ll go and get another pony and I’ll ride with you”. She said, “No, no, just walk with me.”‘
The Queen reportedly knew it would be her last ride and time seeing Emma – and later that evening, came down for a chat and final goodbye to her beloved pony.
Mr Pendry also promised the late Queen that he would bury Emma when she passes away, between two other horses she loved.
He added: ‘I promised the Queen that I will bury Emma. Her ashes will go between Burmese, who was the last horse she rode on Trooping the Colour, and the last horse that she ever rode, which was a dear horse, Sanction.’
Mr Pendry said after the Queen died, the fell pony had some sort of ‘sixth sense’ about her death.
The royal had enjoyed ‘gentle trips’ during her last year despite health advice not to do so from doctors.
While the first animal associated with the Queen is likely a corgi for many, horses were among her great loves.
When she wasn’t cheering in the stands of races, she was riding in various events.
The legacy of love for horses has been passed onto her children, as Queen Elizabeth spent equestrian days out with Prince Edward and attended horse trials accompanied by Princess Anne.
Prince Henry and William have taken up polo and Zara Tindall, Anne’s daughter, became the first of the Royals to win a medal at the Olympics.
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