Philip of Edinburgh had his tastes and preferences very clear, he was a great enthusiast of equestrian sports for almost all his life, he became a master in horse-drawn carriage racing and lived it with great intensity and recklessness.
His love of his horses led him to represent Great Britain in three European and six world polo competitions. By the 1960s he was one of the top eight British polo players. It is worth mentioning that for 22 years (1964-1986) he was the president of the FEI (International Equestrian Federation).
When Philip could no longer play polo, he began to dedicate himself to carriage driving. He was so keen that it is said that he sought out members of his family to teach them.
Prince Charles followed in his father’s footsteps and played polo representing the nation, while Princess Anne was a brilliant event rider. Zara Tindall and Lady Louise also followed closely in Prince Philip’s footsteps and his passion for equestrian sport.
For Philip, horses were part of his life, he was a great rider and was very competitive. Even his advanced age did not stop him, as he could be seen driving his horses and carriages around the grounds of Windsor Castle.
What happened to Prince Philip’s horses?
For the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, held on April 17, 2021, his beloved animals accompanied him for the final farewell.
The carriage was pulled by two black ponies; Balmoral Nevis and Notlan Storm, both were born in 2008 and are an endangered breed called Fell, in fact, Balmoral Nevis was bred by the Queen so it had a very special meaning for him.
In May 2022, during the ‘Royal Windsor Horse Show’, Lady Louise, daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, made an equestrian exhibition driving the carriage that belonged to the Duke and that he himself gave to the young woman as an inheritance.
