Queen Elizabeth is and has been — since she was a young girl — enamored with horses. Riding them, showing them, breeding them, racing them, watching them. The British monarch received her first riding lesson at age three, and was given her first pony when she turned four. In celebration of her Platinum Jubilee, which celebrates 70 years on the throne, we take a look at her love of horses throughout the years.

“She is a marvelous rider. She has a marvelous way with horses.”

Her son and heir Prince Charles to a BBC documentary.
(Rider/AP)
Princess Elizabeth rides sidesaddle on Kate in her first Trooping the Colour on June 12, 1947.
(Harris/AP).
Queen Elizabeth II receives 7-year-old Burmese from Canadian Solicitor-General George McIlraith and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Comissioner F.A. Lindsay at Windsor Castle on April 28, 1969.
Getty Images.
The Queen on horseback looking toward Balmoral Castle in Scotland. September 1, 1971.
Getty Images.
Here, Queen Elizabeth II salutes during the 1978 Trooping the Colour, a parade that takes place annually in celebration of her birthday. June 3, 1978.
Getty Images.
Queen Elizabeth out riding her horse in the snow during the Royal Family's new year holiday at Sandringham, Norfolk. January 2, 1979.
Getty Images.
Queen Elizabeth greets troops on horseback at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. May 17, 1997.
Mark Cuthbert, Getty Images.
The Queen goes for a horseback ride on her 79th birthday. April 21, 2005
Max Mumby, Indigo, Getty Images.
Queen Elizabeth pats her horse 'Balmoral Erica' after it came second in the Ridden Mountain and Moorland Class on day 4 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. May 2014.
What better way to celebrate a gorgeous Autumn weekend in England than with a ride around Windsor? The Queen and her youngest son, Prince Edward, took a ride together. November 17, 2018.
Chris Jackson, Gettty Images.
Queen Elizabeth is pictured here with her winning horse at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2019.
Max Mumby, Indigo, Getty Images.
Queen Elizabeth watches her horse 'First Receiver' compete in and win at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. July 3, 2021.
Shutterstock.
Queen Elizabeth poses here for a special 96th birthday portrait alongside two of her ponies: Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale. April 2022.

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