Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal. A.K.A. Princess Anne to us commoners! If you want to know things about her private life this is not the book.This book is entirely about her riding and her relationship with the horses in her life. This book started with many days of recorded interviews with Anne and Ivor Hebert at Gatcome Park, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. Using the transcripts of these interviews Anne then wrote this book. The book certainly has Anne’s personality on every page and it never has the imprint of having been “ghost ” written . And that is what makes it such an engaging read.
The early chapters and photos ( there are 150 all chosen by the Princess) show her on her ponies that were her first introduction to riding.
” If you have never ridden you imagine it is simply like sitting in a chair nothing happening. One of the real bonuses of riding is the fact that you require involuntary movments to keep your balance in the saddle. You don’t have to bully somebody to take exercise; if they’re going to sit there and stay on , their muscles have to do something whether they like it or not. “ Princess Anne
As an adult she did a lot of work with the British Riding for the Disabled Association. Here is what she has to say about the benefits of riding no matter what your age or disability is.
“I keep trying to persuade people that horses aren’t just about grotty little children with pigtails and rich parents. There is so much more to be gained from contact with horses and indeed from any animals. In my case I was able to ride well enough to compete at an international level, which gave me the added bonus that the sport took me to places I certainly wouldn’t have gone to otherwise and meeting people I wouldn’t otherwise have met. Sport in its many forms is very good for that and this is just as true for those with a disability. Competition has become an important part of the RDA’s therapy, enthusiastically supported by riders of all standards including those who are too badly disabled to take much part but are encouraged by the achievements of those who can.”
Princess Anne chose three day eventing as the equestrian discipline she would pursue. I don’t know how many of you are aware that eventing is the most dangerous of all horse sports. Every year riders fall with their horses on the cross country course and die. So she was clearly a brave rider and a determined one. She is also the only member of the Royal Family to be chosen to compete on a British Olympic team. She rode on the British Eventing team in the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
Princess Anne was chosen for the team due to her good performances in the British three day event at Badminton and Burghley. These competitions are known , world wide, as the most demanding of all eventing competitions. Sha had previously aimed for the 1972 Munich Olympics but her main horse injured himself during the cross country at Burghley. The injury did not at first manifest itself and she actually won the Burghley Championship. On another horse,Goodwill, she was chosen to compete as an individual at the European Championships in Ukraine.
The 1976 Montreal Olympics had heavy rain the night before the cross country. There was one fence that was badly affected. There were two ways to approach the fence and a messenger was sent to tell the starters that route “B” was the one to take. The messenger was on a bicycle and the chain broke so he did not get to the start in time to let Anne know . She chose route “A”. Here is what she can remember of what happened.
“Because I had heard nothing to the contrary I stuck with option ‘A’. The last thing I remember was a ghastly sinking sensatin as if all four of Goodwill’s feet were stuck in treacle. Then , as far as I’m concerned the lights went out. “
Miraculously horse and rider did not sustain serious injury. Anne was permitted to finish the course.Today that would never have been allowed. Princess Anne had a bad concussion however and remembers little of the rest of the course. She descirbes her condition as “the lights were on but there was no one home.”
Princess Anne came to the conclusion that her competitive career was over due to the pressure of the time needed to continue with training and competition and she also wanted to start a family. But this was , by no means, the end of her riding horses. In her world travels she was often asked it she would like to ride and when she had the opportunity to ride one of the Lipizzaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna she was astonished that they were prepared to let ” a complete novice ride one of their precious horses”. The Princess also rode in New Zealand, Kenya, Austrailia, Iran,and the United States.
On a visit to Ethopia for her work with Save The Children Fund she learned to ride a mule on a three day trek to the Simien Mountains.
Princess Anne took a different turn in her riding pursuits at an age when most jockeys are thinking of retiring. She took up Flat racing and Steeplechasing. See photos below. The first is of her first winner on the flat, Gulfland at Redcar on August 6 1986. The next photo is of the Princess on General Joy at Stratford-upon -Avon. 1988.
I have no doubt that the Princess was a fearless rider. What I enjoyed about this book was how she expressed herself . Despite being a highly accompished rider she always plays down her acccomplisments and describes herself as “hobby ” rider . In the “Conclusions” chapter she has this to say.
” “When I first considered putting my thoughts on paper, I was inspired by the percepion of horses as rich man’s playthings. and that they had no other role or, if they did it was too small to alter the image.This is not an autobiography, for my sporting career certainly doesn’t warrant one. It would be insulting to the many more talented and successfull individuals who have put pen to paper to encourage others. However , throughout the rest of my life I will have cause to thank the experience that I have gained from my association with horses.I have no idea what I would have done if horses hadn’t been available.“
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would give it a 5 * rating no problem. If you are a horse person you will love it as did. If you are not a horse person you will find it an interesting read about a very unique woman who is both physically and mentally strong and determined.
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