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Prince George ‘has been having horse-riding lessons on Zara Tindall’s Shetland pony’

PRINCE George has been having horse-riding lessons on a Shetland pony belonging to Prince William’s cousin Zara Tindall.

George, who turned six on Monday, has reportedly been having lessons in Windsor since he was just four years old.

 Prince George has been having horse-riding lessons according to a royal source
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Prince George has been having horse-riding lessons according to a royal sourceCredit: Handout - Getty

Keen for their son to take up the hobby the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge asked Olympic equestrian Zara to loan them a smaller pony for George to get started on.

Speaking to a source said: “William and Kate were really keen to get George riding – it's something all the royals do and the whole family adore animals. But obviously he's only small so they didn't want to put him on a big horse.

“They asked Zara if they could use one of her Shetland ponies and he's been learning to ride on one of those.”

The heir to the throne has taken after his dad when it comes to his interest in riding.

 Kate and William were apparently keen for George, seen here in Canada, to take up the hobby
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Kate and William were apparently keen for George, seen here in Canada, to take up the hobbyCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
 George is thought to have had his lessons on a Shetland pony on loan from Olympic equestrian Zara Tindall
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George is thought to have had his lessons on a Shetland pony on loan from Olympic equestrian Zara TindallCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Prince William was also a keen rider as a child and was given his very own Shetland pony called Smokey when he was four.

William has of course gone on to become a keen polo player, regularly taking part in matches alongside his brother Prince Harry.

Charlotte too is thought to have received lessons.

 Prince William had his own Shetland pony as a youngster called Smokey
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Prince William had his own Shetland pony as a youngster called SmokeyCredit: Getty - Contributor

In 2016 Paralympic Equestrian Baker also revealed that the Duchess of Cambridge had told her the princess was already riding as a toddler.

She said at the time: "I asked her how the children were and she said Charlotte is really enjoying her riding."

It is no wonder that horse riding is so popular among the royals with the Queen herself still riding her fell ponies at the grand old age of 93.

Kate, however, is thought to be one of the few members of the royal family to avoid horse riding.

Despite rumours that the Duchess of Cambridge is allergic to horses, royal author Marcia Moody says it is down to the fact she simply hasn’t grown up with the sport.

She told : “Kate doesn't ride, purely because didn't do it growing up.

“William and Harry were taught from an early age, but the only time they ride now is for polo—they don't go off on hacks like the queen always has.”

In other royal news, we told you how Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have ended their "rift" by "talking and texting regularly about motherhood" a royal writer has claimed.

Meanwhile Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shouldn't be "frightened" about Archie being photographed, according to a royal commentator.

Meghan Markle takes baby Archie to cheer on Harry at polo while Kate Middleton and her kids support Wills as brothers face off in charity match