The Queen 's loyal groom said it was an “honour” to help Her Majesty’s favourite horse Emma say a final farewell at Windsor Castle.
Watchers were reduced to tears by the sight of the 24-year-old horse, who was “adored” by the Queen, standing silently on Windsor’s Long Walk.
As the hearse carrying Elizabeth II’s coffin finally appeared on its way to St George’s Chapel, Emma appeared to paw the ground, almost in a ‘curtsy’.
Her groom, Terry Pendry, said: “It was an honour and privilege to have Emma with me to say goodbye to Her Majesty.
“The Queen adored Emma and rode her for more than 20 years so it was only right she should have been there, and she behaved impeccably.
“I think she probably had some sort of sixth sense that Her Majesty wouldn’t be riding her any more and she did her proud by standing there so respectfully.”
In a touching tribute to the Queen, the last stud groom had placed the Queen’s silk headscarf on the saddle, as Her Majesty rarely wore a riding hat.
Mr Pendry, 72, has been head groom at Windsor for 28 years and regularly rode with the Queen. He was once asked when he would retire and replied: “When Her Majesty stops riding.”
He revealed the Queen had last ridden Emma, a rare breed Highland Fell Pony, back in July.
Mr Pendry, who attended the service at St George’s Chapel, and who lives on the estate, added: “The Queen always rode with a white sheepskin saddle, it was her favourite, so I made sure Emma had that on as well.
“Then for the finishing touch I put Her Majesty’s Hermes headscarf on the saddle. It was her favourite and had the horses and carriages printed on it. Less is more, if you ask me. I could have put her riding crop and gloves, but I just thought the headscarf was the perfect touch.’
Mr Pendry said: “I’ve been riding with the Queen for years and the last time she was on Emma was back on July 18 – two days before she left for Balmoral.
“It’s a memory I shall never forget, and I tell you something, the Queen may have been frail as any 96-year-old would be, but she was still as sharp as anything.
“I was right by her side and there was no indication that anything was wrong with her. The Queen was an incredible lady who selflessly dedicated herself to the service of this country and the Commonwealth.”
Mr Pendry, who was awarded the LVO and BEM for his services, added: “I’m sad to say that I don’t think we shall ever see anyone like the Queen again and there are no words to express how much I shall miss her.
“All I can say as a loyal servant of many years is ‘God bless her and God Save The King.’ The last few days have been very traumatic but now we just have to get on with our work.
“I’m just so glad that Emma and I were able to say our goodbye at Windsor, where Her Majesty enjoyed riding so much.”
Emma was bred at the Murthwaite Stud farm in Cumbria by Thomas Capstick, who died in 2015. His aunt, Mary Airey, said seeing Emma lifting her foot as the coffin went past was “priceless”.
Queen Elizabeth II was patron of the Fell Pony Society for more than 40 years.
She loved the breed and had bred her own since 1952.
Ms Airey, who lives near Sedbergh, Cumbria, said her nephew sold four ponies to the Queen. She said: “Thomas would have been so proud to see Emma included in the funeral events.”
Mr Pendry had attended Mr Capstick’s funeral seven years ago on behalf of the monarch, which Ms Airey said was a “great honour”.
She added: “It was lovely yesterday to see Emma with Terry.
“And – I don’t know if people noticed – but when the coffin went past, Emma lifted her foot and it was priceless.”
The breeder began his stud in 1962 and said his aim was to “promote natural and traditional breeding of Fell ponies for as many years as possible”.
Emma, however, left the Cumbrian fells for a more luxurious life in the Royal Mews at Windsor Castle.
Ms Airey said her nephew never talked about his meetings with the Queen. But she recalled one amusing occasion when he took a pony to meet the monarch with Ms Airey’s daughter, Liz.
She said: “When they got the pony out of the trailer, it went straight into the lovely, clean stable and rolled around and then had a wee.
“The Queen thought it was hilarious and my daughter said, ‘that’s the way we do things up north, Ma’am’.”
Following Mr Capstick’s death, Ms Airey’s daughter took over the business, breeding ponies in the Cumbrian Fells.
