The Queen had a spring in her step during a series of equine-related engagements in Somerset today.
A keen equestrian herself, she was taken on a tour of champion trainer Paul Nicholls’s Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, where she fed carrots to a racehorse called McFabulous.
She also met some of Nicholls’s other specimens, including Frodon and Clan Des Obeaux, who is co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Queen, wearing an Angela Kelly lime green outfit, then met representatives from the University of Bath working on research projects about equestrian sport spinal injuries and racehorse welfare.
She was also due to name a new Avon and Somerset Police horse. Before departing, the Queen was presented with a framed black and white photograph of the Queen Mother presenting Mr Nicholls with the Hennessy Gold Cup trophy in 1987.
The Duchess of Cambridge was also on duty today, visiting the Scouts’ Headquarters in Gilwell Park, Essex.
She met some Beavers — the organisation’s division for six to eight-year-olds — where she learnt about bringing Scouting to the younger generation.
