WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 11: A Competitor controls a horse at the third day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
The world’s eyes might be on Windsor this month for a certain wedding, but it’s the top class equestrian action that caught our imagination last week (9-13 May 2018). We take a look behind the scenes...
Royal Windsor knows all about rain (rewind to the apocalyptic flooding of 2016…), and so when the sun does shine we know how to make the most of it…
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 09: Visitors buy ice creams during the first day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 9, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Going freestyle: we can’t always trust our horses to stick to the script when it matters most
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 11: A Competitor controls a horse at the third day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Soldier soldier: we wouldn’t blame horses for looking twice at these (fake) guardsmen
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Models of the Queen's Guard are seen at the third day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
With a packed schedule of top showjumping classes, it’s poles galore behind-the-scenes
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Preparations on the third day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
All hands on deck: a bowler hat-clad steward gets to work
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 11: A steward sets the course on the third day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Clad in her signature headscarf, The Queen could be mistaken for just another spectator — if it weren’t for her entourage of security (and all those camera lenses…)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Queen Elizabeth II attends the third day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
(Image credit: WireImage)
Pomp and ceremony: members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment leave the Castle Arena after its musical ride. Next stop? Reporting for duty for Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor this Saturday (19 May)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 11: Members of the Household Cavalry leave a ring after a demonstration on the third day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 11, 2018 in Windsor, England. The Royal Windsor Horse Show is hosted in the private grounds of Windsor Castle and is attended by members of the Royal family including the Queen. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
A Royal Windsor star: Katie Jerram-Hunnable and The Queen’s prolific former racehorse-turned-showing star strike a post ahead of his retirement ceremony at the show
Katie Jerram-Hunnable holds The Queen's horse, Barbers Shop, at Windsor Castle, Berkshire ahead of his retirement ceremony at the 75th Royal Windsor Horse Show. The 16-year-old former racehorse was bred by the Queen Mother as one of her last foals and then gifted to the Queen when she passed away. Following a successful race career Barbers Shop was retrained by the QueenÕs stud groom, Terry Pandry, before entering the world of Showing.
(Image credit: PA Wire/PA Images)
Beady eyes: spectators don’t get much more knowledgable than Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II during the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
(Image credit: PA Wire/PA Images)
Show pressure? What show pressure? Horses are grazed in the picture-perfect grounds of Windsor Castle
Horses are exercised next to the river Thames during day two of the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
(Image credit: PA Wire/PA Images)
All part of the plan: the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan wow the crowds with their new performance ‘Land of Fire – Azerbaijan’
Riders from Azerbaijan perform during day four of the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
(Image credit: PA Wire/PA Images)
Finishing with a bang: the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery’s musical drive ends in its typically spectacular style
The Musical Drive of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery perform in front of Queen Elizabeth II, during the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
(Image credit: PA Wire/PA Images)
Fast and furious: team Scotland at breakneck speed in the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games
Members of team Scotland compete in the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games during the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
(Image credit: PA Wire/PA Images)
A (Royal) family day out: Sophie Countess of Wessex and her son Viscount Severn keep a close eye on the driving
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Don’t miss the full report and analysis from Royal Windsor Horse Show 2018 in this Thursday’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine
For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday
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A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.
