Queen Elizabeth's final ride on her cherished pony Emma recalled by groom

As the second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s passing approaches, her longtime groom and riding companion, Terry Pendry, has shared poignant details about her final ride on her beloved Fell pony, Emma. 

Pendry, who served as the Queen’s stud groom and manager at Windsor Castle for over 28 years, opened up about their last equestrian outing during an episode of Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast on September 6.

The Queen, a passionate horsewoman throughout her life, remained dedicated to riding up until the summer before her death in September 2022. 

The stud groom revealed that her last ride was not as dynamic as usual. 

"The very last time with her wasn't a ride, I walked," he recounted. 

He explained that on July 18, the Queen rode Emma in the riding school, but by then she was quite frail. 

Terry would assist her onto the mounting block and help her dismount, reflecting the deep bond and care he provided throughout their years together.

Pendry was walking alongside her when the Queen looked down and remarked, "This hasn't happened to me since I was a princess… Someone walking alongside me like this." 

Despite her frailty, she insisted that he stay with her and even allowed him to take a photograph for her scrapbook, noting, "Your pony is 26, you're 96, that has to be a record!" 

To which the she responded, "I suppose you're right."

"She just looked at me and said, You were very rude to me yesterday," before bursting into laughter. 

The stud groom reflected on the encounter as a quintessential example of the Queen's gracious and humorous nature, marking it as the last time he saw her.