Trooping of the Colour
Inge Jones
were no longer surprised that the Queen was in a carriage. How long ago
did she stop riding horseback for the ceremony?
Gill Webster
Inge Jones <ne...@drealm.org.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20010617...@inge.clara.net...
I looked it up for you - HM began using the phaeton in 1987!! I can't
believe it's been that long!!
She gave up the horse ride because her much loved horse "Burmese" was
getting on and was retired. HM did not want to have to start and train
another horse to cope with the bands and the crowds and all the noise and
fuss.
Did you see that lovely British summer weather? Ankle deep water to march
through - lovely!
Gill
Inge Jones
gill.w...@virgin.net (Gill Webster) wrote:
> Did you see that lovely British summer weather? Ankle deep water to
> march through - lovely!
>
> Gill
See it? Living only about 5 miles from Buckingham Palace, we were in
the middle of it! Fortunately I didn't have to go out (I sent my husband
for the shopping) (-:
Norina
Ladies,
What did you think of the Balcony Show...was it the dreary weather or was it simply limp?
Norina
salyaly
tellme about it! Thank God it was cleared up by evening,and I went outto
meeta friend...we had a walk in that lovely "after downpour"air
Inge Jones
gill.w...@virgin.net (Gill Webster) wrote:
> She gave up the horse ride because her much loved horse "Burmese" was
> getting on and was retired. HM did not want to have to start and train
> another horse to cope with the bands and the crowds and all the noise
> and fuss.
It didn't occur to me the Queen was responsible for choosing and training
her horse for the event, I sort of assumed it was trained up and wheeled
out for her to jump onto on the day. Of course that means I wasn't
thinking properly, because horses do generally need to feel as confident
with their riders as vice versa in order to behave reliably.
Do you know if she still rides horseback at all, even for leisure? If so,
does she have a new favorite that we can find out about?
Gill Webster
Yes indeed. She enjoys her horses and has stables at Sandringham and
Balmoral, that I know of. She is still sometimes pictures out riding on one
or other of those estates.
Gill
Liv...@webtv.net
>
>In article <2T0X6.23086$A45.3...@news2-win.server.ntlworld.com>,
>gill.w...@virgin.net (Gill Webster) wrote:
>
>
>> She gave up the horse ride because her much loved horse "Burmese" was
>> getting on and was retired. HM did not want to have to start and train
>> another horse to cope with the bands and the crowds and all the noise
>> and fuss.
>
>It didn't occur to me the Queen was responsible for choosing and training
>her horse for the event, I sort of assumed it was trained up and wheeled
>out for her to jump onto on the day. Of course that means I wasn't
>thinking properly, because horses do generally need to feel as confident
>with their riders as vice versa in order to behave reliably.
>
I doubt that HM actually is the person who does all the work getting her mount
used to the noise and commotion that is present for outings like the Trooping of
Colour, etc. Usually, that is done by others in the guards or for the Royal
Mews. In fact, when I was in London last January, I watched a pair of drivers
work a matched pair of blacks pulling an open phaeton in the midst of the usual
hectic London traffic up and down Buckingham Palace Road. The purpose was to
acclimate them to working in public and to not be phased by all the distractions
and disorder.
However, the choice of one's mount is a very personal thing. And, as you say,
the relationship a horse and rider develops (or sometimes doesn't!)is very
symbiotic. It takes considerable time for that level of mutual trust and
understanding between horse and rider to develop even if the horse has been
schooled in the basics and is used to working in crowds.
Given all that, I can understand perfectly why the Queen chose not to go through
the process of "breaking in" a new mount. Not to be disrespecftful, but as you
get older your reflexes, balance and endurance is not as keen as it once was.
Part of "the trick" of horse and rider working as one is the rider's ability to
anticipate the animal's behavior or habits, and correct or overcome those
tendencies. Like anything, a bit harder to do as you get older -- not to
mention, as you get older, sometimes even the things you enjoy require a level
of commitment you just no longer want to expend. ;)
>Do you know if she still rides horseback at all, even for leisure? If so,
>does she have a new favorite that we can find out about?
>
According to HM's website, she still does ride. See:
http://navigation.helper.realnames.com/framer/1/262/default.asp?realname=Yahoo%21&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyahoo%2Ecom&frameid=1&providerid=262&uid=30002693
There were also several pictures published not long ago of HM, Edward and Sophie
riding together (I believe) at Windsor. The photos accompanied a story that
talked about Sophie and how well she got along with the family as she enjoyed
many of the usual family hobbies and pursuits.
Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to find any links on the web that featured the
photos I'm thinking of. But, perhaps this reference might bring them to mind.
Hope this helps!
Candace E. Metz-Longinette-Gahring
> > > Inge wrote:
> > >
> > > Do you know if she still rides horseback at all, even
> > > for leisure? If so, does she have a new favorite that
> > > we can find out about?
Her favourite used to be Burmese, a magnificent mare given
to her by the RCMP. Burmese, I'm told, died a few years
ago after being retired. Fabulous horse, really.
An anecdote about Burmese:
Several years ago, a portrait of the Queen with Burmese was
done. The painter was hell-bent on catching some emotion
in Burmese's eyes, but Burmese had been trained to react to
*nothing*, so the "usual tricks" (such as making sudden
noises) didn't work (remember that Burmese did not overreact
when the Queen was rushed at the 1981 Trooping.) "I could
plant a grenade at that horse's feet and she wouldn't react!"
the painter sighed.
Finally, the painter managed to get Burmese to take notice.
The painter held his breath when the portrait was presented
to Her Majesty.
"The eye of the horse," the Queen noticed immediately.
"*Very* nice!" she beamed.
> > Gill wrote:
> > Yes indeed. She enjoys her horses and has stables at
> > Sandringham and Balmoral, that I know of. She is still
> > sometimes pictures out riding on one or other of those
> > estates.
She's a fabulous rider. I have a picture of her, absolutely
radiant, at a full gallop. She looks *thrilled*.
Nowadays, she often rides with the Countess of Wessex, who,
in Edward's absence, rides his paint horse. When Edward is
there, she rides another. The Queen seems to favour dark
horses - usually chestnuts.
> Sacha wrote:
>
> In a headscarf - cue shrieks of outrage from the safety
> fraternities...
Years ago, when the Princess Royal was young, someone
insisted that the hippomane Princess don a protective
helmet beneath her Tudor bonnet.
"I *won't* do it!" Princess Anne replied stubbornly, and
then called in "the big guns" with, "I'LL PHONE MUMMY!"
Horse-mad myself, I never wore a helmet either.
> ... in her own way, she's as stubborn about that as
> Prince Charles was about NOT giving up his Action Man
> activities years ago.
As much as tragedies have borne out the wisdom of
protective gear, I think there is such a thing as being
TOO overprotective. Nowadays, children are almost coated,
head to toe, in helmets, kneepads, elbow pads and what
amounts to body armour for riding their bikes, etc usw.
It just seems a bit much to me. While yes, alas, there
have been accidents and tragedies, generations of children
have ridden horses, bikes, etc usw, without all that and
the majority have suffered no ill effects. Motorcycles
are one thing, but there is just something about galloping
along with the wind in one's hair... [cue screams of
outrage over the inherent dangers... ;) ]
> Do you remember when she rode out with Pres. Reagan? He
> headed for the cameras, she headed away! ;-)
Fond as I am of the poor, now terribly befuddled and
suffering from Alzheimer's, former President, I understand
that HM was world-class annoyed with him - he showed up
for the planned ride late. Tell-tale sign of her annoyance:
she was spinning her wedding and engagement rings around
her finger.
He later charmed his way back into her good graces (I'm
told she was very fond of him.) Tardiness usually manages
to annoy the punctual Queen - even in her mother, the
habitually-tardy Queen Mum, who famously charmed King
George V into over-looking it in her case. ;)
~ C.
--
- CEM-L-G
Personal Homepage: http://www.hom.net/~walkuere/
"Bis Ihre Lebensdauer beendet wird, haben Sie gerade genug
erlernt, es gut anzufangen." - Eleanore Marx
"Who can refute a sneer?" - William Paley (1743-1805):
Moral Philosophy. Vol. ii. Book v. Chap. 9.
"Se desiderassi sentire il vostro parere, Vi darei uno."
Italian common sense ;)
truebrit
Candace E. Metz-Longinette-Gahring wrote in message
<3B3B9B91...@hom.net>...
>
>> > > Inge wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Do you know if she still rides horseback at all, even
>> > > for leisure? If so, does she have a new favorite that
>> > > we can find out about?
>
>Her favourite used to be Burmese, a magnificent mare given
>to her by the RCMP. Burmese, I'm told, died a few years
>ago after being retired. Fabulous horse, really.
>
>An anecdote about Burmese:
>
>Several years ago, a portrait of the Queen with Burmese was
>done. The painter was hell-bent on catching some emotion
>in Burmese's eyes, but Burmese had been trained to react to
>*nothing*, so the "usual tricks" (such as making sudden
>noises) didn't work (remember that Burmese did not overreact
>when the Queen was rushed at the 1981 Trooping.) "I could
>plant a grenade at that horse's feet and she wouldn't react!"
>the painter sighed.
>
>Finally, the painter managed to get Burmese to take notice.
>The painter held his breath when the portrait was presented
>to Her Majesty.
>
>"The eye of the horse," the Queen noticed immediately.
>"*Very* nice!" she beamed.
I wonder how the artist got him to take notice in the end.....a roll of Polo
Mints do you suppose?
I nearly got into a to-do with a neighbor once when I said how much horses
love mints. No she said I dont think you can give mince to a horse. Poor
old thing she felt so dumb when I showed her a roll of Polo's.
For American posters - mince in the UK is ground beef.
Thanks for posting that Candace. I am a horse lover too, next to the dog
they are my favorite animal.
Mrs H
=============================
Candace E. Metz-Longinette-Gahring
> > Candace wrote:
> >
> > "The eye of the horse," the Queen noticed immediately.
> > "*Very* nice!" she beamed.
> truebrit wrote:
>
> I wonder how the artist got him to take notice in the end...
> a roll of Polo Mints do you suppose?
I don't remember, but mints would probably do the trick. ;)
> I nearly got into a to-do with a neighbor once when I said
> how much horses love mints. No she said I dont think you
> can give mince to a horse. Poor old thing she felt so dumb
> when I showed her a roll of Polo's.
>
> For American posters - mince in the UK is ground beef.
I once lived next door to a lady who bred and showed Arabian
horses. As I had 25 acres and she 5, I took down some fences
and allowed her horses to "mow" my lawn.
They almost unilaterally ADORED mints. I used to buy them
in bulk, and use them for rewards.
All except Justice, who was his own individual, besides
being half-Tennessee Walker and half-Morgan. Justice wouldn't
have anything to do with mints, having been given a mint-
flavoured medicine as a colt. Justice preferred eating a
banana plant next to my back door down to a nubbin. Apples
were another favourite. He liked anything crunchy, up to and
including a bag of Cheetos he pilfered from my husband's car.
Justice was infernally clever. When I was left in charge
of the horse farm when my neighbour was at a show, part of
the many chores I had to do was to turn the horses into
their respective fields. Every morning, Justice would already
be out, even though the gate to his stall was securely
locked (and "securely" because he, as well as the others, had
quickly mastered opening both a latch, necessitating the
use of heavy slide bolts) and I would be greeted by the sight
of this great black horse contentedly munching away.
Since Justice was a generous 16 hands, I could not figure
out HOW he was getting out without opening the door. One
early morning, I found him contentedly munching in the pasture
(as the other horses squealed in indignation) and exasperated,
yelled at him, "Justice! Back to your stall! NOW!"
He dropped his head and sulked back to his stall. To my
utter amazement, he then dropped to his knees, and squeezed
like a mouse BENEATH his door (which of course, did not
go all the way to the ground.)
He was also a "sunbather." The first time I saw him stretched
out on the ground, long legs in the air and akimbo, I thought
"oh my God! Horse down!" I ran from my house and into the
field, scared to death the munching fool had colicked on
something and was in distress - or God forbid, dead.
Hearing my frantic approach, he lumbered to his feet and
looked at me, as if to say "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!"
"The boys" as we called the herd of geldings that grazed
on our acreage, trained US well. They would bang their
muzzles on our windows and look pathetic until, soft touch
that I am, I would fetch some goodies.
> Thanks for posting that Candace. I am a horse lover too,
> next to the dog they are my favorite animal.
I have adored horses since I was tiny. My mother put me on
my first when I was a mere six months old. I couldn't sit
alone, of course, but a picture was taken of me in my "first
time in the saddle."
I became fascinated with Royalty because of horses - the
Queen being a horse lover and having such magnificent specimens.
My first interest was in the hippomane Princess Anne, whom I
followed passionately, and then Queen Noor (because of all
those wonderful courtship pictures with those magnificent
Arabians!)
Inge Jones
Metz-Longinette-Gahring) wrote:
> Horse-mad myself, I never wore a helmet either.
I think it should be up to the individual on things that affect their own
safety. I would prefer a system where rules were only imposed when your
actions could interfere with someone else's rights. Although I suppose
it's very expensive for the NHS to care long term for someone with brain
damage. Perhaps helmets should be optional as long as the rider
(motorbikes) has private insurance? (-:
> As much as tragedies have borne out the wisdom of
> protective gear, I think there is such a thing as being
> TOO overprotective.
We're a lot more precious than we used to be about an individual human
life. I gather people used to be a lot more pragmatic about losing a few
children in the olden days, and had about one a year to make sure some
were left at the end to look after them in their old age.
> Fond as I am of the poor, now terribly befuddled and
> suffering from Alzheimer's, former President, I understand
> that HM was world-class annoyed with him - he showed up
> for the planned ride late.
I wonder for how long initial effects of alzheimers are around before it
becomes so noticeable that it's diagnosed? For some years before the
announcement, people were having the occasional giggle at some apparent
absent-mindedness of Reagan's
Gill Webster
The problem with this line of thinking is like the words of the song - "We
don't know what we've got till it's gone..."
Having been through a period of post-meningal brain trauma which caused me
to have double vision, warped sense of smell and taste, problems with
hearing, balance and short term memory, all I can do is earnestly urge
every one of you lovely people to take great care of your head!!
Fortunately, my impairments mended over time, but "impact" damage may not
heal so well. But, believe me, friends, you DO NOT want to have permanent
symptoms like those, as they are frustrating, annoying to the point of
total distraction, and can really cause a deterioration in your quality of
life. Imagine not being able to read, write, sew, or whatever your other
pastimes using these senses might be - just sit and try to pass the time. I
had to have five months off work, and could not even drive myself to the
shops to pass an hour or two.
Look after those brains - you can't get a new one!!
Gill
Martha Tassi
> ===========================
If you know what the symptoms are, you can spot it early on and have it
confirmed through medical tests. There are medications that can be taken to
delay the deterioration and extend the "good years", but the inevitable will
come to pass.
-Martha
=============================
Karen Horn
:
: As much as tragedies have borne out the wisdom of
: TOO overprotective. Nowadays, children are almost coated,
: head to toe, in helmets, kneepads, elbow pads and what
: amounts to body armour for riding their bikes, etc usw.
: It just seems a bit much to me. While yes, alas, there
: have been accidents and tragedies, generations of children
: have ridden horses, bikes, etc usw, without all that and
: the majority have suffered no ill effects. Motorcycles
: are one thing, but there is just something about galloping
: along with the wind in one's hair... [cue screams of
: outrage over the inherent dangers... ;) ]
In general, I agree. However, it's a long, damn way off a horse.
When I was 14 my dad's boss's girl who was the same age as me
loved horseback riding. Had her own horse, had been riding for years.
One day she was riding bareback [as she did not infrequently] the horse,
suddenly stumbled, and she fell & hit her head on a rock and eventually died
after being in a coma for several days. I've never forgotten that tragedy.
She had also been the apple of her dad's eye and the family was never
the same. From "happy home" of 4 kids there was a divorce within 2 years.
It was about 30 years ago this summer. Elbow pads, whatever? your
choice, just going to scrap and hurt like hell. Hit your head on a
hard surface? We could be talking death.
Karen
loki
> In general, I agree. However, it's a long, damn way off a horse.
> When I was 14 my dad's boss's girl who was the same age as me
> loved horseback riding. Had her own horse, had been riding for years.
> One day she was riding bareback [as she did not infrequently] the horse,
> suddenly stumbled, and she fell & hit her head on a rock and eventually
died
> after being in a coma for several days. I've never forgotten that
tragedy.
> She had also been the apple of her dad's eye and the family was never
> the same. From "happy home" of 4 kids there was a divorce within 2 years.
> It was about 30 years ago this summer. Elbow pads, whatever? your
> choice, just going to scrap and hurt like hell. Hit your head on a
> hard surface? We could be talking death.
While I have never owned horses my best life long friend does and has for
many years.
When we were teens she rode Western and competed in a lot of Western horse
shows. She rode barrels. You have to be crazy to do that...
These days she rides English style and has her own stable. I don't believe
she competes anymore but her son does.
I will never forget the day that her mother called me at my office -
something she had never done before and which took some work as she did not
have my direct number and it was a huge corporation. I thought my friend
must be dead for her mother to call me there. Turned out she almost was.
She had broken her neck while riding. I don't remember the details but it
was a while before we knew she would be alright.
In her case a helmet wouldn't have helped. She landed head first on the
pavement IIRC. She's still riding and her son is as well. He had not even
been born when the accident occurred.
There are just some things one does for the love of it, danger be damned.
Loki