Queen Camilla has returned to Ebony Riding Club in Brixton, south London, a centre she opened 25 years ago, where she fed polo mints to Taylor, a 17-year-old mare who once rode alongside the late Queen Elizabeth. During the visit, she praised the inner-city riding school as "bigger and better" than ever.
Visit to the stables and new horses
Camilla, who has been President of the organisation since 2009, was introduced to Taylor and Margate, known affectionately as Maggie, a former carriage horse. "Where are my polos?", said a smiling Camilla as she stopped to stroke, pat and offer the sweets to both animals.
Taylor, a black mare, moved to Brixton from the Royal Mews earlier this summer along with Maggie, who escorted the late Queen and her fell pony Emma on daily outings with her head groom Terry Pendry. Maggie, a Cleveland Bay bred at Hampton Court and raised as a carriage horse, worked at the Royal Mews until after the Coronation. An injury meant she was no longer well enough to pull carriages, but after a three-year break she has been loaned to the charity, alongside Taylor, and the two are now used to teach local children and young people how to ride and care for horses.
Improvements to horse wellbeing
The Queen was shown inside the centre's stables, where bars separating the horses have been partially removed to allow them to socialise more. The change was made after one horse, Tommy, refused to lie down at night. The more open environment has significantly improved the animals' wellbeing, resulting in better sleep for them all. "Tommy is much more relaxed and feels safe," volunteer Sarah Cope told the Queen.
Under the Equicentric Futures project, led by the Association of British Riding Schools, the nine resident horses have also been given slow feeder nets of hay to replicate natural foraging, which has the added bonus of making their food last longer overnight.
Meeting pupils and volunteers
The Queen, who wore a white animal print dress by Fiona Clare, met Year 6 pupils from Corpus Christi Primary School in Brixton Hill, who have taken part in the centre's schools' programme, learning to ride, groom and muck out stables. Headteacher Jean Connery told her: "It's wonderful for the children. They would never have the opportunity to do this and it's so good for their confidence. We are very lucky to have this on our doorstep."
Camilla also met volunteers who have helped to create a new community space under a former railway arch at the centre and are training others to volunteer with the horses and community groups. "It's such a lovely place, you must all get so much satisfaction," she said.
Riding demonstration and awards
Later, Camilla watched as Adam Bentallah, 12, on Taylor, and Isaiah Clayton, 16, on Maggie, gave a riding demonstration in the arena. Afterwards, she presented them both with trophies in recognition of their hard work and dedication. Handing one to Isaiah, she called him a "star rider" and told Adam his award was "very well deserved". As dogs nearby barked loudly, she told the schoolboy: "Even the dogs are applauding you."
She said of the club, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year: "It gets bigger and better every time. The first time I came here it was literally a field and a couple of stables." Jason Hawkes, 17, who has been attending the club as a rider and volunteer for eight years, presented the Queen with a bouquet of flowers. He said afterwards: "What it's done for me has been unbelievable. It's given me freedom and has opened my eyes to the world. There are so many other things you can do. It's good to get away from city life."
Impact on young people
Through access to horses, the charity works to improve the lives of some of the area's most disadvantaged children and young people aged 8 to 18. Several young riders have gone on to have a career in racing and this year several alumni will join the British Racing School, the National Stud and the National Horseracing College.
Chief Operating Officer Sid Holdsworth described the Queen's visit as "just so unbelievably special." He said: "She has always been such an incredibly supportive president, beyond what we would ever have hoped or expected, and we've been so lucky to see her so many times this year. So for her to make the effort and come to Brixton is just incredible and so exciting. For our young people, it's just a once in a lifetime opportunity, and they think it is the coolest thing that we know the Queen."
