Is horse riding a royal hobby?

Equestrian


Equestrian is commonly known as horse riding. It includes the disciplines of
riding, driving, or vaulting with horses. 


own picture



Some history


The exact date horses were domesticated is unknown, just as the date when 
they were first ridden. The best estimate is that horses first were ridden about
3500 BC. 

Equestrianism was introduced in the 1900 Summer Olympics as a Olympic
sport with jumping events. 

By 1912, all three Olympic disciplines still seen today were a part of the
games. They are governed by the rules of the International Federation for 
Equestrian Sports (FEI).

* Dressage;
* Show Jumping;
* Eventing. 


Royals and their love for horse riding


Austria


On 2 January 1743, Maria Theresa of Austria held a ladies carousel in the
Winter Riding School of the Hofburg. 

Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) (1837 - 1898)  was a keen equestrian.
She loved horse riding. She rode every day for hours on end.
She became the world's best-known female equestrian at her time.




Emperor Franz Joseph, the husband of Sisi, was an inveterate traveller and 
horseman. 




Austria even had its own world famous Spanish Riding School, near the
Hofburg Palace in Vienna. They work with Lipizzans. 


own picture taken in Vienna in 2011


Belgium

One of the most famous members of the Belgian royal family who adored horse
riding was Marie Henriette of Austria. She was Queen of the Belgians from 1865
till 1902.

Upon her marriage, Pauline de Metternich said:

"It was a marriage between a stable-boy and a nun. And the nun, I meant the
Duke of Brabant."

On a later age, she left Brussels for Spa, where she dedicated herself 
on her hobby. 

Burgundy


In 1482, after a hunt in the woods near Wijnendale Castle (nowadays in 
Belgium), Mary of Burgundy (who loved horse riding) was thrown from
her horse and the horse landed on her. She broke her back and died on
27 March 1482 at the age of 25. Her husband (later Emperor Maximilian
I of Austria) grieved hard. She was buried in Bruges. 

Czech Republic


Countess Lata Brandisová (1895 - 1981) was a famous Czech equestrian and
the only woman who won the Great Pardubice Steeplechase. Her victory over
the Nazi officers in 1937 was seen as a symbol of Czech resistance against 
Nazi Germany. 


Denmark


Princess Nathalie zu Sayn - Wittgenstein- Berleburg (born 1975),
is the daughter of Princess Benedikte of Denmark (the sister of Queen
Margrethe II of Denmark).

She also is a keen equestrian. She won a Bronze Medal on the
European Championship with the Danish team. She also participated
during the 2000 Olympics and in London 2012 as well. In the 2008
summer Olympics she and the Danish dressure team won a Bronze
Medal. She opened up her own stud farm. 

France

King Francis I of France loved archery, falconry, riding horses,
hunting, jousting, real tennis and wrestling. 

King Henry II of France died while participating on a tournament
on 30 June 1559. 

Of course the most famous horse rider in history of France was
Napoleon Bonaparte, who became Emperor of France. Marengo
was the name of his horse. It was named after the Battle of Marengo. 

In 1815 Marengo was captured after the Battle of Waterloo by
William Petre, 11th. Baron Petre. He brought the horse to the 
United Kingdom. Later the skeleton of Marengo was preserved and it
is now on display at the National Army Museum in London. 





Germany

Prince Sigismund of Prussia (1891-1927) and his wife (Marie Louise of
Schaumburg-Lippe) were keen lovers of horse riding. He was considered
of one of the best horsemen of Germany. The couple spent much of their
time training horses at their estate in Mecklenburg as well as Glienicke 
Palace near Potsdam. He and his wife were very popular in Germany. 

On 5 July 1927, Prince Sigismund was riding in an international tournament
in Lucerne in Switzerland. There he fell from his horse, he broke five ribs 
and caused other injuries. He was brought to a hospital, but he died the next
day at the age of 35. 





Hungary


On 17 May 1395, Queen Mary of Hungary decided to go hunting in a Buda
forest. At that moment she was pregnant. Her horse tripped her, threw her
and landed on top of her. She died the same day as well as her stillborn son. 



Anna of Bohemia and Hungary(1503-1547) liked to ride on horses. She 
became the wife of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor. 



India


The House of Merwar in Rajasthan (North West of India) had bred the
Marwari horse at the begin of the 12th. century. The horses were used in the
cavalry. After the British rule, the horse almost went extinct but now they
are trying to save this type of horse! 

Radmanabh Sing (born in 1988) is a member of the not reigning royal family
of Jaipur. He is a keen polo player. 


Italy

Lorenzo de' Medici participated in jousting, hawking, hunting and horse
breeding for the Palio horse race in Siena. In 1496, at the age of 20, he 
won a prize in a jousting tournament sponsored by his family. 




Charles Albert (1798-1849), King of Sardinia from 1831 until 1849 had a personal
horse called Favorito. He rode on him during the campaigns of 1848. After the
exile of Charles Albert, Favorito joined his master to Porto. When Charles Albert
died in 1849, Favorito was brought back to the Royal Stables in Turin (Italy). 


Jordan

Princess Haya bint Hussein, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and 
Queen Alia, half-sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan is an accomplished
equestrian. She represented Jordan at the 2000 Summer Olympics in 
Sydney Australia and is the two-term President of the International
Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI). In 2004, she became the second
official wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of
the Emirate of Dubai. On 15 April 2019, Princess Haya left Dubai with
the two children of the marriage to reside in the United Kingdom.

Malaysia


Tunku Ismail Idris, Crown Prince of Johor (born in 1984) is a polo
enthusiast and a skilful horse rider. He was bestowed with the 
Best Riding Award among IMA cadets between 2003 and 2004. 


Ottoman Empire

The main sports in the Ottoman Empire were inter alia wrestling, archery
and horseback riding. Besides this, the horse was important for travelling
and during a battle. 

Sultan Ahmed I (1590-1617) is known for his love for fencing, poetry,
horseback riding and he was fluent in several languages.

Sultan Abdul Hamid I (1725-1789) bred Arabian horses with great passion.




Portugal

King Dom Pedro IV of Portugal, better known as Pedro I of Brazil
was a keen horseman. He trained unbroken with horses and he also
became an excellent farrier. 


own picture taken in 2019 in Porto


Russia

Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of Russia (1891-1942), a son of
Grand Duke Paule Alexandrovic of Russia and Princess Alexandra
of Greece and Denmark, followed a military career. He was commissioned
as a cornet in the Horse Guards Regiment. He was an excellent equestrian.
He participated at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. 



Saudi Arabia


King Khalid of Saudi Arabia (1913-1982) had as favourite pastimes:
falconry and horse riding. He was described as a man from the desert.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (1924-2015) was an expert equestrian
in his youth. His stables were considered the largest in Saudi Arabia
with over 1,000 horses spread throughout five divisions led by his son
Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah. The King also owned Janadria Farm, a large
complex located in the suburbs of Riyadh. 
 

Spain

King Philip IV of Spain (1605-1665) was a fine horseman. He liked horses,
dogs and art. 


Queen Maria Luisa of Parma (1751-1818) was the wife of King Carlos IV
of Spain. She was painted by Goya on an horseback. This work can be seen at
the Prado Museum in Madrid. 


Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, the 18th. Duchess of Alba (1926-2014)  also was a
keen horse rider. 




The royal Andalusian school of  Equestrian Art is located in Jerez de la Frontera.
It is one of the Big Four riding academies in the world. The school is dedicated to
the Andalusian horse. 



own pictures taken in 2005



The Netherlands


It is known that former Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands loves to ride
on horses. This passion is transferred to King Willem-Alexander of 
The Netherlands and on Princess Amalia, Princess Arianne and Princes
Alexia as well.

It is also known that Princess Margarita de Bourbon-Parma likes to
ride horses. She is president of the Jumping of Amsterdam. 

King Willem II of The Netherlands also was a keen horse rider.




United Arab Emirates

In the United Arab Emirates, horse riding is very popular because it 
is something that appeals all ages. Horses were the Porsches or the 
Ferrari's of the ancient world. Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai is a
major figure in international horse racing and breeding. 


United Kingdom

In 1702 William of Orange(William III of England), died of pneumonia,
a complication from a broken collarbone following a fall from his
horse, Sorrel. 





Queen Victoria was pictured while horse riding. She transferred her 
passion to Queen Elizabeth (The Queen) and to Princess Anne and
Zara Tindall as well. 




Burmese, a police horse was given to Queen Elizabeth II by the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was riden by the Queen 
for Trooping the Colours from 1969 to 1986. 



The Queen riding in 1982 on Burmese
during a state visit of Ronald Reagan. 



Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Charles, the Prince of Wales, 
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex are all keen polo players. They play
sometimes polo for charity events. 



own picture



A note from Eostre via Twitter:

William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newscastle had a lot to do with
foundations of modern dressage and had purpose-built stables &
riding school (oldest surviving in UK) at Bolsover Castle in
Derbyshire (spent time on continent, esp Antwerp). 

Thank you



A special thank you to:

Oscar Meijer 
Geert Janssens
Netty Royal 
EmpressofHab 

for your cooperation and your very useful information and tips!! 



Source pictures: Wikipedia except the ones I took during travels and at home. 

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