Zara Tindall looks ready for action as she braves gloomy weather to compete in Gloucestershire

Zara Tindall looked ready for action as she took part in a training event at the Rectory Farm Arena yesterday.

The 42-year-old daughter of the Princess Royal, known for her equestrian prowess, rode two of her horses – the dark brown 'Showtime' and the gray-coated 'Classicals Euro Star' – in what appeared to be gloomy, overcast weather in Gloucestershire.

She dressed in a navy blue waterproof jacket and wore white riding breeches, riding boots and a helmet.

The royal – who won silver in a team event for Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics – appeared in good spirits as she set out to show off her jumping and dressage talents.

Known as much for her sporting prowess as her sartorial choices, Zara attends equestrian events all over the world, both as a formidable athlete when she competes and as a trendsetting fashionista when she is a spectator.

Her illustrious career includes gold at the 2005 European Eventing Championships and silver at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Zara has also previously been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year and has been nicknamed the Royal Olympian.

Last month, Zara showed off her chic fashion sense when she opted for an all-burgundy ensemble as she enjoyed a solo day out on Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day.

The king's niece was left without her husband Mike and their three children in the Gloucestershire city, known for its racecourse of the same name.

She dressed warmly in a long, dark red coat, which she combined with matching leather-look boots and gloves.

She completed her ensemble with a black turtleneck and a chic navy blue fedora, accented with a decorative sash.

Cheltenham's Festival Trials Day is described as 'the last chance to see the sport's leading lights go to battle on the hallowed grounds of Cheltenham Racecourse before the Cheltenham Festival', which takes place in March.

The website says: 'With an eight-race card, with each race being a trial for a race at the Cheltenham Festival, it doesn't get much more exciting unless it's the festival itself.

'The excitement isn't limited to the track, with fantastic entertainment throughout the day and The Wickermen performing live music after the race, it's a seamless build-up to the Cheltenham Festival.'

Meanwhile, her husband Mike Tindall, 45, with whom she shared three children, revealed earlier this month that one of the few times he has ever cried was over the loss of one of his beloved dogs.

Speaking to comedians Jack Dee and Seann Walsh on the Oh My Dog podcast, the former rugby star spoke about the three dogs he shares with his wife.

Mike, who lives with Zara on Princess Anne's estate in Gatcombe Park, currently has three dogs: black Labradors Storm and Pepper, who are mother and daughter, and Blink the Brindle Boxer, named after 'power women' from Marvel Comics.

He told the presenters: The only times I've ever cried, well, really ever cried, [was] when I had a bull mastiff named Misty who died, and then Cawley, who was also Storm's mother when she died.”

The ex-England captain admitted he is concerned about 15-year-old Storm, Pepper's mother, because she is less active.

“It's hard with her at the moment because she's, you know, unfortunately, very old now and it comes at times like that.

“When you ask the question, does she enjoy what she does, you know?”

He went on to explain that Storm, who was given to Zara as a puppy by her friend, has lost interest in outdoor walks and now prefers to stay in her bed.

'She's just not interested. You shake a belt at her, you go out, you go out. You have to drag her out a bit.

'She says, “I don't want to go.” And I'm like, “Well, yeah, you gotta go a little bit too.”

“You take her outside, you try to get her to do it, and then you let her go to do her business, and then she just runs away.

“She knows exactly where the door is and she knows she can open the door, so she just pushes him straight back onto the bed.

'Maybe she'll take a look in the kitchen along the way.

'So yes, it really is a terrible situation. I think this is the worst place for an owner to be in that situation.”

The father of three then compared 15-year-old Storm to an older person, who doesn't like loud noises and prefers a quiet environment.

'She's like an old person. She hates noise.

“So when she's as happy as Larry, and then you go downstairs for breakfast and she says, 'Please open a door, I'm going into another room because the noise is putting my head in.'