Royals and their love of horses

Horses have always played a major role in the lives of British royals. The Queen is enamoured with the four-legged creatures and even now, at age 90, still looks forward to saddling up for a stroll around the grounds of Windsor Castle. <p>From Zara Tindall's Olympic bid to the men of Windsor on the polo field, we round up some of the most memorable moments of royals on horseback. </p>
The Queen's admiration for all things equestrian started when she was only four years old. It was then that the future monarch was gifted a Shetland pony named Peggy. Over the years, Britain's longest reigning monarch has owned dozens of steeds, including many championship winning race horses. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Prince William proved to be a natural in the saddle at a very early age. Here he is aged four being led around Highgrove gardens by his mother, Princess Diana. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
A young Princess Diana, seen here at age 14, gets a kiss from her pet pony Scuffle. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Years before he horsed around on the Polo field, Prince Harry enjoyed the company of many four-legged friends. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Princes William and Harry have come a long way from riding ponies around the grounds of their family home. Both royals love to show off their equestrian skills during Polo matches. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Prince George, 2, is said to be taking to riding like a 'duck to water' after his parents put him on his first pony late last year. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Princess Anne's life has always revolved around riding horses, therefore it's no surprise that her daughter Zara went on to make a career out of it. Here, the Princess Royal competes at the Crookham Horse Trials in 1972. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
A young Zara Tindall, age two, gets up close and personal with a steed at the Badminton Horse Trials in 1984. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Zara's performance at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London earned the royal a silver medal in team eventing. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Like his sister Zara, Peter Phillips started riding horses at a very young age. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Peter and Autumn Phillips' first-born daughter Savannah spends much of her free time watching her aunt Zara compete in eventing competitions. To help kick-start her niece's equestrian career, Zara gave her a Shetland pony to call her own. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Polo-loving Prince Philip and his four-legged teammate prepare to hit the field at Windsor Great Park in 1957. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Like his father, Prince Charles has an affinity for horses thanks to his lifelong love of polo. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
The Queen's granddaughter Princess Eugenie, 4, saddles up at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 1994. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
A love of riding is one thing that Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex have in common. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
11-year-old Princess Beatrice takes a leap on her pony Del Boy at a horse show in 2000. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Three generations of royal women, Zara Tindall, the Queen and Princess Anne, trot around Windsor Castle over Easter weekend in 2004. <p>Photo: © CP</p>
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