<![CDATA[The Queen today received the first inaugural FEI Lifetime Achievement award, which recognises her dedication to horses.
The award was presented to The Queen at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace by Princess Haya in the presence of the former FEI President The Duke of Edinburgh, as well as Keith Taylor, Chairman of the British Equestrian Federation.
Now aged 88, The Queen has always had a fond interest of horses and had her first riding lesson at the young age of three. Her grandfather, King George V gave Princess Elizabeth her first horse on her fourth birthday, a Shetland pony called Peggy.
Her Majesty is also a huge racing fan and horses bred by The Queen have won more than 1,600 races, including all of the British Classics except the Epsom Derby.
The Queen isn’t the only royal who has a love of horses. Her daughter, The Princess Royal won a gold medal at the 1971 European Eventing Championship’s and her granddaughter, Zara Tindall won Silver at the 2012 Olympic Games.
The FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) was founded almost 100 years ago in 1921, and is the world governing body for Jumping, Dressage & Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving & Para-Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.
The FEI Lifetime Achievement award was created in 2014 by Princess Haya, who is leaving the role as FEI President later this year. It aims to acknowledge individuals who has inspired generations across the global equestrian community.
You can read more about the Queen’s love of horses by clicking here.
Photo credits: RichKnowles and Mikepaws via photopin cc]]>
Neither Anne nor Zara have won Olympic gold medals. Zara won a silver. Anne has never won an Olympic medal, although she was a member of the Olympic team in Montreal.
The article did not imply they did. Charlie wrote “The Princess Royal won a gold medal at the 1971 European Eventing Championship’s” and mentioned Zara’s silver medal at the 2012 Olympics.
… acknowledge individuals who have inspired generations…