Elizabeth the Equestrian

Elizabeth Taylor’s relationship with horses was a quiet constant throughout her life, shaping both her childhood and her inner emotional world. While it was never as public as other elements of her experiences, her achievements, and her personality, horseback riding and horses themselves held deep personal meaning for her.

Elizabeth was introduced to horseback riding during her childhood in England. “My happiest moments as a child were riding my Newfoundland pony, Betty, in the woods on 3,000 acres of my godfather’s estate near the village of Cranbrook,” she said. Riding became even more a part of her upbringing after her family moved to California, and especially so during her years as a child actor at MGM. At a time when the studio tightly controlled her image, her schedule, and even her friendships, horses offered a rare sense of autonomy. And unlike acting, which demanded performance for others, riding was private — an activity just for her.

Her most famous equestrian association came with National Velvet (1944), the film that made her a star at age 12. The story, about a determined girl who forms a deep partnership with a spirited thoroughbred horse called The Pie, mirrored Elizabeth’s own temperament. “National Velvet was really me,” she stated. For the role, she trained extensively and developed a real bond with the horses used in the production, namely King Charles, the seven year old gelding who portrayed The Pie. Trained as a show jumper, he had been previously ridden by Elizabeth, who suggested him for the film. Though he was aggressive towards his handlers during production, Elizabeth, who had earned his trust, was the sole exception. Having grown close with the horse, she asked to keep the horse after production, and her wish was eventually granted by Louis B. Mayer when she received the horse as a gift on her 13th birthday. King Charles lived out his remaining days in her care.

As she moved into adulthood and her fame intensified, horses receded from her public narrative and moved firmly into the private sphere. Though she rarely spoke about riding, she often shared her enduring love for animals. “It is not true that I like animals more than people, but they come a very close second,” she once remarked, “There is no bullshit about them.” She continued to own horses at various points for the rest of her life and rode recreationally, especially when living in more secluded settings, away from Hollywood.

Unlike her famed collection of jewels or the romances that made headlines, horses were never something she had to share with the public, nor were they influenced by her intensely famous image. Instead, they were loving companions, and in their company, she could simply be Elizabeth.