The Queen - shocked!

Well, I don't care! I'm going to criticise and moan if I want to!

I criticised last time and I'll do it next time too.

Those Balmoral Highlands are disgustingly obese. I'd say that to HRM and risk a beheading. I just hope no one on here thinks that that's the way they should be.

There, I've said it.:eek:

So there!:p

It's not in the spirit of the thread, but I do agree that the highlands were obese.

I actually didn't watch the second half this time - I watched the lovely section about racing and left to play with my own ponies half way through the "Monty Roberts heralded an age of enlightenment to end millenia of cruelty towards the horse" section. He winds me up and the obese highlands even more so.

It's an interesting programme, and nice to see such things on mainstream tv though.
 
I watched it on iplayer this morning. Enjoyed it but it would have been nice to have seen more of the 180(?) horses she owns instead of so much focus on the racing side.
 
I dont believe she is clueless, ahe is just dumbing it down for the masses

Exactly this... this is mainstream TV where you have to assume that most people know diddly-squat about horses. I'm 99.9% certain that CB knows exactly what bagging up is... however how many non-horsey people do you know who do? A presenters job is to ask the questions that make things clear to the audience regardless of if they have any experience of horses or not.

Anyway, can't comment on the rest as I'll be watching it tonight :)
 
Well, I don't care! I'm going to criticise and moan if I want to!

I criticised last time and I'll do it next time too.

Those Balmoral Highlands are disgustingly obese. I'd say that to HRM and risk a beheading. I just hope no one on here thinks that that's the way they should be.

There, I've said it.:eek:

So there!:p

It's not in the spirit of the thread, but I do agree that the highlands were obese.

I actually didn't watch the second half this time - I watched the lovely section about racing and left to play with my own ponies half way through the "Monty Roberts heralded an age of enlightenment to end millenia of cruelty towards the horse" section. He winds me up and the obese highlands even more so.

It's an interesting programme, and nice to see such things on mainstream tv though.


Hee hee I was wondering if you would come say something about the fatties :D When I was watching I thought they were obese too :( Still want one though, the queen could give me one of hers and I'd slim it down for her! ;):D
 
Exactly this... this is mainstream TV where you have to assume that most people know diddly-squat about horses. I'm 99.9% certain that CB knows exactly what bagging up is... however how many non-horsey people do you know who do? A presenters job is to ask the questions that make things clear to the audience regardless of if they have any experience of horses or not.

Anyway, can't comment on the rest as I'll be watching it tonight :)

This 100%. I think it was a great programme and CB pitched it just right. A lot of people watching it will be clueless; hopefully this will spark an interest for them. It's also great for people to see a softer, more human side of the queen. It's lovely how much she smiles around horses, especially when everyone thinks of her as being quite miserable!

There were a few issues here and there (obese Highlands, seemingly unnecessary interfering with foaling, etc) but the overall programme was really enjoyable.
 
Loved it.
OH who constantly moans he is "horsed out" had found it whilst channel hopping and recorded it for me.

As to the moans well....

thank *** you lot dont see what I get up too!

But CB lovers - partbred photos on the way soon!!
 
Hee hee I was wondering if you would come say something about the fatties :D When I was watching I thought they were obese too :( Still want one though, the queen could give me one of hers and I'd slim it down for her! ;):D

I'm very, very predictable ;)
 
I have heard her often say things which leave me a bit shocked at her equine ignorance. Her comment about horses being broken in with fear, was typical of her IMO.

You're going to have to add me to your ignorant list then because I certainly saw an awful lot of horses broken - if not with fear - certainly with overwhelming dominance until they just gave up. Less so in the higher echelons but down on the farms etc., the same idea of busting a bronco was alive and well - I used to do it! I worshipped the ground on which cowboys trod - in my youth there was a black & white western on t.v. every night of the week and the three picture houses in town played very little else.
Later, I was drawn to one particular lady's methods - she was doing almost the same as M.R. but call it Join Up.

Overall, I enjoyed the programme - but that's what it was - remember the remit - Educate, Inform and Entertain and that's quite difficult given the competitive nature of available media these days - it was not compiled for a critical audience - just a Royalfest with Horsey interest - and in this respect it succeeded in spades.

Agree with (Oberon) about H.M.'s seat - absolutely flippin' marvellous she can get up there at all these days but in the past certainly rather C+ could do better - that clip of her cantering in the Great Park or Rotten Row showed about a dozen faults to our modern eyes but then hardly anyone had heard of dressage then let alone did any.

Personally, I'd like to have seen something of the Windsor Greys ( oh 50 Shades of Horse!) but the T.B. has always been special to E.R.
 
..... I'm 99.9% certain that CB knows exactly what bagging up is...

Funnily enough, I reckon that's far more a farming phrase directed at cows - I bet that stud groom has dairying experience. With horses, I'd say "waxing up" is more usual.

My old dear was rather like the old woman from Horton - she had one long and a short'un - despite having in all probability - at least one foal - it had been many years before I knew her - but she used to regularly drip milk. "Nothing to worry about Old Chap," said my jolly Vet "just shows where some of that food goes."
 
You're going to have to add me to your ignorant list then because I certainly saw an awful lot of horses broken - if not with fear - certainly with overwhelming dominance until they just gave up. Less so in the higher echelons but down on the farms etc., the same idea of busting a bronco was alive and well - I used to do it! I worshipped the ground on which cowboys trod - in my youth there was a black & white western on t.v. every night of the week and the three picture houses in town played very little else.
Later, I was drawn to one particular lady's methods - she was doing almost the same as M.R. but call it Join Up.

.

I must have led a very sheltered life, as I grew up surrounded by people breaking in & schooling horses, through the 60's and 70's, and virtually never saw a situation which resulted in a bucking bronco type reaction when being broken in. These were pretty knowledgeable people including dealers, riding schools, FBHS types, people who ran hunter hirelings and all & sundry in between.
There was a more black & white way of doing things, which had a prescribed pattern to it - which isn't wildly different to the way it's still done, but if the horse bronked/bronks you have probably cocked up.
 
I love the Queen, she's amazing :D

Think it was definitely aimed at the level knowledge being "horses go neigh".

I would have liked to see more about her other horses and not just the racehorses. Love highlands :)
 
Was rather pleased to see the brood mares turned out in the snow with NO rugs !
Also, on a more sombre note wonder what will happen to HMs horses when HM is not with us. Dont think charles will bother.

I think she is wonderful still riding at her age, and also thougth she was using the old hunting seat and possibly rides less than perfectly because she has knee problems so comfort is all
 
Funnily enough, I reckon that's far more a farming phrase directed at cows - I bet that stud groom has dairying experience. With horses, I'd say "waxing up" is more usual.

My old dear was rather like the old woman from Horton - she had one long and a short'un - despite having in all probability - at least one foal - it had been many years before I knew her - but she used to regularly drip milk. "Nothing to worry about Old Chap," said my jolly Vet "just shows where some of that food goes."

Well here we refer to horses as bagging up then waxing up two different things.
 
I must have led a very sheltered life, as I grew up surrounded by people breaking in & schooling horses, through the 60's and 70's, and virtually never saw a situation which resulted in a bucking bronco type reaction when being broken in. These were pretty knowledgeable people including dealers, riding schools, FBHS types, people who ran hunter hirelings and all & sundry in between.
There was a more black & white way of doing things, which had a prescribed pattern to it - which isn't wildly different to the way it's still done, but if the horse bronked/bronks you have probably cocked up.

Amen to that.
It would be considered a failing on the trainers part if one did buck/bronk because of the implications of an unwanted habit been picked up.
It is very annoying when people go on about cruel breaking methods as if everyone were barbaric until Monty appeared.
 
She rides in the style she was taught - the classic hunting seat ;)

I am guilty of this - see my position in 1992 :eek:


Indeed Oberon! See below pic of my mum she was the same age as the Queen as you can see the no hat thing was a bit of a motif as well!

mumandhector.jpg
 
Lovely pic chavhorse.

Alma I doubt that Her Majesty's horses have to fear for their futures. Prince Charles is a very keen horseman and an accomplished rider, as is the Duchess of Cornwall. We don't see Charles on horseback so often these days as he had a very nasty fall playing polo and was advised to take it easy. William and Harry are also keen horsemen who share their father and grandfather's love of polo (HM also breeds polo ponies).

All of the Queen's children ride although Charles and Anne are/were the most keen. Anne took riding to the level she did because she was considerably further down the line of succession, Charles hunted, evented and played polo but it had to take second place to his royal duties.

Charles is also a keen supporter of rare breeds so even if he cuts back on the breeding of racehorses I doubt he will do anything to adversely affect the future of the CB or Highland.

All of the Queen's children ride and most of her grandchildren too (I have never seen pictures of Andrew's daughters on horses). I'm sure her first great grandchild will be introduced to the joys of horses too.

Incidentally anything the Queen funds from her private wealth can be left to whoever she choses in her will. It is only the things that are "official" that pass automatically to Charles.
 
As it was funded from her private wealth I wondered who would be willing to pick up the tab ! Hopefully not for a long time yet,cant imagine the country without her really.
 
Great programme, totally agree re the highlands being too fat. But if you go up to the Royal highland show, they often are. In England we like our ponies slimmer and fitter and of course so do a lot of northern people but it seems still acceptable in the show ring.

Remember a hipo need a decent layer of dat, Balmoral is very cold and thinner ponies would die!

Got to give it to her still riding, go your majesty!
 
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