Queen Elizabeth’s Horse Wins Historic Gold Cup At Royal Ascot

A beaming Queen Elizabeth II received the Gold Cup trophy on Thursday after becoming the first reigning British monarch in history with a winning horse in Royal Ascot’s biggest race.

The 87-year-old queen watched joyously as, Estimate, her much-fancied young filly crossed the finish line.

The queen, who has been on the throne for 61 years, has attended Ascot every year since 1945. Thursday’s win was her 22nd overall at Ascot, but the first in the signature Gold Cup.

The Queen joins with her horse, Estimate,  in the Winners Enclosure, a first for a reigning monarch in the race’s 207-year history.

The horse-loving queen is widely respected as an expert on horse breeding and racing.

According to the BBC, the queen has won various races at Ascot at least 21 times, the first, famously, came just two weeks after her 1953 Coronation when her horse, Choir Boy, won the Hunt Cup.

The 87 year old Queen Elizabeth II joins with jockey Ryan Moore as they celebrate winning the Gold Cup

Queen Elizabeth II is presented the Gold Cup by her son Prince Andrew, duke of York, after her horse “Estimate” wins.

Estimate, the Queen’s winning filly

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Horses Get Fake Gucci Sunglasses

It seems that Leicestershire, England has a bumper crop of fake designer sunglasses worth nearly $100,000.  These were being sold in markets and from cars. All  failed to meet safety requirements.

After the officers of the Leicestershire Trading Standards seized around 480 counterfeit brands, the problem was what to do with them in an environmentally responsible manner.

It was then decided to give these designer sunglasses to the horses.

The sunglasses will be shredded and made into stall bedding for horses.

Although this was considered an unusual method of disposal, it was decided that recycling them into the animal product was the safest and most useful.  Keith Regan, from trading standards, stated that ‘it was a good use rather than using natural products’.

The sunglasses will be given to a company free of charge to be manufactured into horse bedding.

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Re-written from news article:
BBC News

Spring Scene: Love My Mom

Wild Mare and Foal
New Forest, England

Original Upload

Posted by permission

London Police Horse Pals Retire Together

Vincent and Ursula

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Two inseparable horses are set to retire together after spending a total of 30 years in London’s Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch.

Vincent, 22, and Ursula, 21, have built a special bond over the past 18 months after sharing adjoining stalls and playing together in the field at the Met’s stables in Surrey.

Not wanting to separate the two, the staff has arranged for the retiring duo to be sent to the same farm in East Sussex to share out their lives, together.

This was a special exception as horses are rarely retired to one location.

Inspector Alan Hiscox, chief instructor at the Metropolitan Police’s Mounted Branch Training Establishment, said: “Vincent and Ursula have contributed to every aspect of policing in the Mounted Branch, from frontline patrols and ceremonial duties, right through to training our younger horses and new officers”.

The Mounted Branch was established in 1760 and currently has over 140 officers and 120 horses at eight operational stables spread across London.

They have a  variety of roles including, high visibility patrols, public order duties as well as specific crime initiatives and specialist events, such as   trooping the color.

Every officer and horse receives extensive training. They ensure that both horse and rider are well equipped to deal with the rigors of policing in the capital.

Vincent and Ursula have both had illustrious careers having  served at football matches at Wembley and also at the Queen’s Birthday Parade.

Inspector Alan Hiscox  says: “I have had the honor of riding both Vincent and Ursula, they are very special horses.

“It has been very heartening to see them grow close and they deserve many long and happy years of retirement.”

Both horses will now live out their lives together. They will occasionally be ridden, go for walks and spend time in pasture.

They will be well looked after in their deserved retirement.

Attention Horses! Turn Off The Radio!

No more tranquil music for horses
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A woman who plays classical music to her horses to keep them calm has been told she must pay for a public performance license.

Rosemary Greenway has been playing passages of opera and orchestral symphonies on the radio to the animals at her stables for more than 20 years, convinced that it helps soothe them.

But at the Malthouse Equestrian Centre in Bushton, Wiltshire, England there will be no more music, and perhaps some very nervous horses now residing there.

Because her stables employ more than two people, she received a telephone call from the Performing Right Society which has been targeting stables as part of a drive to get commercial premises to pay for the music played around the barn.

In defense, a spokeswoman for the society said: “Of course, we don’t ask people to pay for music played to animals. “Mrs Greenway was only asked to pay for music played for staff, like any other workplace.”

The radio is now turned off except for Sunday when there are no staff at the stable yard.

It has long been thought that music helps to calm anxious animals.

Last year a study at Belfast Zoo found evidence that playing Elgar, Puccini and Beethoven to elephants helped reduce stress related behaviours such as swaying, pacing and tossing their trunks.

Perhaps the Malthouse Equestrian Centre might consider purchasing some soothing CDs to calm any horses that have become anxious over this “no radio” ruling.

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Link: Have A Spooky Horse?  Try Tchaikovsky!

Mind Your Manners And Your Attire At Royal Ascot This Year

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
at Royal Ascot Races

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With the Royal Ascot Races only a month away, the word is out.  It seems things have gotten out of control in the recent past as to what some have chosen to wear to this event and the Queen and her authorities will have none of it.

So, select your outfit carefully.  Visitors to Royal Ascot this June must adhere to a strict dress code if they want to be allowed in.

First, one needs to be reminded that for centuries admission to the Royal Enclosure was a statement of belonging to the social elite.

Traditional morning dress for gentleman has always been mandatory.

Equally suitable formal attire was expected of proper ladies, which, of course, included hats. 

This year, just in case any newcomers were in doubt of how exclusive the honour is, those who transgress the code will be turned away on the orders of Her Majesty’s representative, the Duke of Devonshire.

While gentlemen have not posed a problem, organisers believe that the lines of what is — and what is not — appropriate for ladies have become confused of late.

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There will be no strapless dresses,
with hat or without.

There will be no exposure of undue amounts of skin.

In other words, keep it covered.

So, ladies, mind those shoulders,
check the front and the back. 

At Royal Ascot this year,
it will require more than just a hat.

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Royal Ascot Website

 

Oldest Horse Charity In The World

Home of Rest For Horses
Britain ~ 1886 ~ Today

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In the 19th century, life for the majority of working horses on the streets of London was appalling.

On 10 May 1886 Miss Ann Lindo, inspired by the book ‘Black Beauty’ and determined to do something about it, set up a home of rest for horses, mules and donkeys at a farm at Sudbury, near Harrow, North-West London.

Fittingly its first resident was an overworked London cab horse.

Among the supporters of the new Society was HRH Prince Albert and before long the Duke of Portland, Master of the Royal Household, agreed to become president.

The role of horse as a working animal has changed radically over the past 120 years. No longer do we see cab horses, delivery drays, working pit ponies or the great Shire horses bending to the plough.

Pit Pony

The Home of Rest for Horses’ residents are today drawn from the ranks of those serving their masters in different ways – the mounted police force, the mounted Army regiments, the Royal Mews, Riding for the Disabled, the Horse Rangers Association – and very occasionally a retired race horse, a polo pony or just a much loved family pet.

Set amongst the rolling Chiltern Hills, The Horse Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses caters for the retirement needs of over 100 horses, donkeys and ponies.

Their smaller relatives are also represented – Shetland ponies, donkeys and hinnies – and, of course, the occasional sad case of a neglected pony which requires urgent rehoming and very special care to restore it to health.

It is home to over 100 animals from all over the country, ranging from rescued ponies to retired drum horses from the Household Cavalry.

The residents at the stables share 200 acres of pristine paddocks and loose boxes in the Chiltern Hills, receiving the loving attention they deserve throughout their final years.

Once accepted into the sanctuary of the Horse Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses, they will remain at the sanctuary for the rest of their days.

Three large Shire horses have just arrived to enjoy their well-earned retirement with The Horse Trust.

Jim, at 19hh, is the biggest horse ever to come to The Trust’s Home of Rest for Horses. He arrived along with Tom and Tryfan.

Jim and Tom worked for many years for the Whitbread brewery as dray horses delivering the beer to local hostelries.

Only a month ago, two Shires, “Rosie” and “Duchess”,  joined their former stablemates, “Jim”, “Tom” and “Tryfan” at the Horse Trust’s Home of Rest in Buckinghamshire.

Owner Kay Parry said: “The horses have been part of our lives for more than 10 years. They are precious to us and have been a delight to hundreds of people.

“We are so grateful to The Horse Trust for continuing to keep them where they can continue to enjoy visitors and for providing the care and kindness for the horses in their later years.”

Among The Residents

Leonidus

This magnificent 17 hand, piebald, shire gelding was owned by the army for 18 years. A former military drum horse Leo was used for ceremonial occasions and regularly paraded at Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade. Leo, born in 1982, joined fellow ex-drum horse, Janus at The Trust’s rest home in 2004.

Janus

Janus arrived at Speen in July 2001 from The Household Cavalry based at Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge. Born in 1984 this 17.2 hand, skewbald gelding joined the army in 1989 and spent many years in service as a drum horse for the Blues and Royals. Janus and Leonidas enjoy grazing together in the tranquility and sanctuary of the Chiltern Hills.

Constantine

The Horse Trust is delighted to welcome its third drum horse to the sanctuary in Speen. Constantine, a 17.1 hh Clydesdale, served the Household Cavalry for 20 years and during that time paraded ten times at Trooping of the Colour.

This 23 year old gelding joins ex drum horses Janus and Leonidas who both retired to the Home a number of years ago.

Stevie

Stevie, an 11.3 hand white donkey, has recently joined our family of donkeys at the Home. This 30 year old cuddly newcomer is already attracting a lot of attention from visitors to the yard. He is very friendly and enjoys tons of love and affection.

Just Otto

Simply known as Otto this 17 hand black gelding arrived from The Royal Mews at Windsor Castle in 2004. Born in 1984 Otto won the Queen’s Cup twice and enjoyed eventing at Blenheim. Now teamed up with old stable mate Lancelot Otto has settled well into his new life in the Chiltern Hills.

Fagin

Fagin, a stunning 18.1 hand grey gelding has been reunited with old friends Dawkins and Cratchit from the Greater Manchester Mounted Police. Fagin was beginning to suffer a significant loss of sight in both of his eyes and has retired early from his duties with the police. He is an exceptional character and an adored addition to the herd.

Thomas

Thomas is a little black bundle of fun who is approximately 36 inches high.  This adorable Shetland pony, with a slightly greying muzzle, struts around his field with his head held high and has made many best friends in the short time he has been here – both human and horse!

Sefton

Sefton who retired from the Household Cavalry in Knightsbridge in 2005 is the nominal successor of a famous predecessor. The Home gave sanctuary over twenty years ago to Sefton, the horse that suffered multiple injuries at the hands of the IRA after the Hyde Park bombing on 20th July 1982. The ‘new’ Sefton is a striking 16.2 hand black gelding who was born in 1987.

 

A Safe Haven …

The Horse Trust manages the Home of Rest for Horses.  This sanctuary is funded solely by donations and legacies and provides lifetime care for more than 100 retired working horses, ponies and donkeys.

The Home of Rest for Horses ‘focus of charitable duty now extends far beyond providing a safe haven for elderly horses, ponies and donkeys.

Never losing touch with that core objective, it now embraces a wider agenda which priorities welfare, science and education and has therefore  re-named the charity “The Horse Trust”.

Website:   “The Horse Trust ~ Home of Rest for Horses”

Rare Caspian Horse Makes Comeback

A breed of horse thought extinct for a thousand years is well and truly on the comeback trail thanks to the efforts of breeders like Pat Bowles.

The recent arrival of a Caspian foal at her British stud is yet another small piece in a remarkable jigsaw that has been growing since the breed was rediscovered in the mid-1960s by American woman Louise Firouz.  The foal arrived during the summer of 2007.

The Caspian breed holds a unique place in history as it was shown on the Seal of King Darius the Great around 500BC.

Today, there is an estimate of 400 in Britain and over 1650 in the world.

An English-bred stallion – Runnymede Karamat
was one of the first
Caspians to be exported to the USA.

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Story Link: News Report

Story Link: Rediscovery of the Caspian Horse

Story Link: Caspians Horses Around The World

Story Link: The Caspian Horse Today

Story Link: How DNA Saved An “Extinct” Breed

Tina Is The Tallest Horse In The World!

Finally, the word is out. It’s official.

Tina, from Niota, Tennessee is now in the Guinness Book of World Records for 2008 as the Tallest Horse in the World.

Tina’s owners Jim and Marge Williams received the good news Thursday morning, October 25, 2007.

In July, Guinness representatives traveled to the Springbrook Inn in Niota to officially measure the very large Shire horse.

At 20 hands tall, Tina has officially claimed the title, “World’s Tallest Horse.” That puts Tina at nearly seven feet tall. She has taken the top spot from former record holder Radar who is a little more than 19 hands tall.

Tina should have no problem holding on to her new title. Her owners expect her to continuing growing, topping out around 23 hands.

Tina’s sire “Deighton Royal Diplomat” was imported from England and stands at 19.1 hands.

Tina was raised on the Jenson Shire farm in Blair, Nebraska and sold to the Williams when she was 4 months old.   Her official name is “Jenson’s Diplomat Tina “.

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Re-written from news sources:

Knoxville, Tennessee News

Tina Grows Another Inch Since Setting Guinness Record

Link:  Simply Marvelous Earlier Post –Tina, Tallest Horse ? Update

                                                                                                      Link:   Simply Marvelous Earlier Post – Tennessee Horse Could Be World’s Tallest

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Sad Update April 2008
Tina Dies

Scrooge, The Police Horse Retires

 Scrooge Heads For Greener Pastures

Inspector Caroline Hemmingway
says Scrooge is fearless and brave.

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His grumpy disposition earned him the name Scrooge, but no-one can deny the remarkable service the 20-year-old horse has given the Greater Manchester Police, in Britain.

Scrooge has retired, having given 16 years of service as a police mount.

He finished at the end of last week after what his human colleagues in the force all agree was a distinguished career, having chalked up the record as Manchester’s longest-serving police horse.

“He is a fantastic horse and has been a regular on patrol and at football matches,” says Chief Inspector Lynn Roby, head of Manchester’s mounted unit. “We will really miss him but, as he reaches his 20th birthday, he deserves a rest.

“Over the years many officers have learned to ride on Scrooge. He has faced every situation with a steadfast and calm attitude.

It is a sad day for the unit and for me as I often rode Scrooge when on duty at football matches. He is well loved by both officers and grooms.”

The 16.3hh bay joined the force in January, 1991, when nearly four years old.

He was originally named Morris, but all Greater Manchester Police horses are named after Charles Dickens characters.
Morris became Scrooge, because of his grumpy nature.

In the last 16 years he has policed football matches, as well as the Commonwealth Games and a recent Labour Party conference.

Inspector Caroline Hemmingway, who worked with Scrooge for the last four years, described him as fearless and brave. His strong personality helped him in his policing role, she said.

Scrooge will be returned to his former owners in Yorkshire. They have followed his career with interest, and are looking forward to taking care of him in his retirement.

Link: