Why Queen Elizabeth's Most Precious Fell Pony Is Being "Immortalized" After One Onlooker "Broke Down in Tears" at the Monarch's Funeral

"It was one of the most significant moments that people remember..."

Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her Stud Groom Terry Pendry, seen horse riding in the grounds of Windsor Castle on October 18, 2008
(Image credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth was known for her lifelong love of horseback riding and horse racing. During her life, she reportedly treasured one fell pony in particular named Emma. Now, the 30-year-old pony is being "immortalized" in an unexpected way.

Marc Stevenson, who makes traditional Victorian-style rocking horses in his woodworking business, Stevenson Brothers, told the Telegraph that his company has created a replica of Queen Elizabeth's beloved fell pony, Emma. Now 30 years old, Emma was reportedly the late Queen's favorite pony, and was present at the monarch's funeral in September 2022.

"That was the moment I broke down in tears," Stevenson said of witnessing Emma at Queen Elizabeth's funeral. "It was one of the most significant moments that people remember from that funeral."

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Stevenson continued, "To see the horse tacked up with The Queen's Hermès scarf draped over the saddle was just delightful. It was at that point that I thought: 'I must do a rocking Emma' to commemorate Her Majesty's memory."

Emma, the monarch's fell pony, stands as the Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St George's Chapel on September 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey

Queen Elizabeth's fell pony, Emma, watches the Ceremonial Procession of the coffin at Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022.

(Image credit: Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Stevenson further explained, "I am very excited to be making Emma. It's keeping The Queen's memory alive for us. She's a special little horse."

The company also created several rocking horses for Queen Elizabeth during her lifetime, many of which she gifted to her relatives. "I knew that she liked rocking horses and she grew up with rocking horses," Stevenson told the outlet.

He continued, "She knew her horses wonderfully. Talking to The Queen about her horses and the breeding was just extraordinary."

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 12: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Queen Elizabeth II watches a flypast by the RAF Red Arrows as she attends a military parade, held by the Household Division (during which The Queen's Colour of F Company Scots Guards will be trooped) in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, to mark her Official Birthday on June 12, 2021 in Windsor, England. For the second consecutive year The Queen's Birthday Parade, known as Trooping the Colour, hasn't been able to go ahead in it's traditional form at Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo - Pool/Getty Images)

"It's keeping The Queen's memory alive for us."

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Emma is such a special fell pony that she was "named horse of a lifetime at the Horse and Hound awards" in December 2022, per the BBC. Basically, it seems as though she's more than earned her "immortalized" status.

Amy Mackelden
Weekend Editor

Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.