By Sara Smyth PUBLISHED: 18:02 EST, 24 May 2013 | UPDATED: 18:10 EST, 24 May 2013 Some celebrate their birthday by taking in a show or flying abroad for a city break, but this year the Queen spent hers watching thoroughbred horses being trained. The Queen has been a passionate horse owner and breeder for much of her 60-year reign and whiled away her 87th birthday at the yard of a West Country trainer, casting her eye over her animals. Buckingham Palace does not disclose how the head of state spends her time away from official duties and said at the time that the monarch was spending her April 21 birthday privately.
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BBC documentary reveals Queen chose to spend 87th birthday with horses
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Intimate portrait of horse lover who has spent 60 year reign breeding horses behind the scenes
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Queens' first riding lesson believed to have been in 1930, aged three
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Monarch's love for noble creatures described by granddaughter and world-class equestrian Zara Phillips
Rare footage is shown in the documentary of the @placeholder as a child riding the pony.