Many TV viewers were moved to tears at the sight of The Queen's beloved pony Emma's final farewell.
The royal steed was brought out by her handler as the funeral procession made its journey to Windsor Castle. Amid a vast array of floral tributes, Emma, with The Queen's headscarf on her saddle, lifted her foot when the coffin passed.
Britain's longest-serving monarch rode the Fell pony for more than 20 years, a pastime she greatly enjoyed away from her royal duties.
Despite battling mobility issues, The Queen spent time in the saddle just two months before she died. Her racing and bloodstock advisor John Warren said that his dear friend rode one of her horses the day before he paid her a visit in July.
He told the Racing Post how she adored getting close up to the animals and was fascinated by them.
"Horses had an amazing way of relaxing in her presence. I never saw a single one do anything silly around her. That was remarkable," he said.
Warren was with The Queen the weekend before she died on September 8, making plans for her string of thoroughbreds, which include Group 2 Temple Stakes winner King's Lynn.
Circle Of Fire, from Sir Michael Stoute's stable, is a potential Derby horse for next year – the only British Classic to elude his owner. The trainer won this year's renewal with Desert Crown and he gave the Queen one of her best days in racing when Estimate took the 2013 Gold Cup.
Her Majesty's lifelong interest in horses began at the age of four, when she was given a Shetland pony by her grandfather, King George V.
As her teenage years approached, Princess Elizabeth enjoyed riding lessons at Windsor, a hobby shared by her father and younger sister Margaret. Aged 16, she was delighted when her parents took her to Fred Darling's stables where she met the 2,000 Guineas winner Big Game.
That sparked her interest in a sport which gave her more than 1,000 triumphs on the Flat and 70 over jumps. Champion owner in 1954 and 1957, she achieved 24 successes at Royal Ascot with her runners over the years.
In 2021, the Queen's 36 winners on the level was her best ever tally and horses carrying the famous purple and scarlet braided silks scooped a record £584,399 in prize money.
Emma the pony's tribute, which featured alongside an appearance from her beloved Corgis, Muick and Sandy, was a nod to the Queen's equine interests.
Speaking to the Daily Mail , stud groom Terry Pendry said it was an "honour and privilege" to have the job of accompanying her faithful mount.
"The Queen adored Emma and rode her for more than 20 years so it was only right she should have been there, and she behaved impeccably," he said.
"I think she probably had some sort of sixth sense that Her Majesty wouldn't be riding her anymore and she did her proud by standing there so respectfully."
Queen Consort Camilla is expected to take the reins in racing, with much optimism about the Queen's next crop of homebreds on the back of recent achievements.
