Starting this year, the Panther Press has decided to add The Critter Corner, where your pet can be featured! In this feature, Eliza Cole talks about her horse, Lu, and her bond with her.
What’s your pet’s name?
“I don’t actually own my horse officially, but I do half-lease one. It’s a girl, her name is Lu. It’s her nickname.”
How old is Lu?
“She is five, so she’s still pretty young for horse years. She’s starting to get towards her prime, but she’s still a baby.”
How long have you had her?
“I actually just started riding her. I just started half-leasing her a month ago. It’s been really fun. A lot of the other horses in the barn I already had some sort of relationship with, I’d ridden them all multiple times. Whereas, with her, it’s a totally new relationship that I’m establishing which has been really fun to learn her quirks and her ins and outs, how exactly to ride her, what she needs, what pressure and where, what support she needs, and things like that.”
How long have you been riding horses?
“I first started taking a few lessons in the summer when I was four. Then, I started taking lessons year-round when I was 7, so about 10 years.”
How did you get into riding horses?
“My grandparents live in New Hampshire and I’d spend a lot of time during the summers with them. My grandma knew somebody who owned a farm near their house, and so I would go up there in the summer and take lessons.”
Q. What’s something interesting about Lu?
“She does get fed treats a lot, so she’s very pushy, greedy. She can be a little obnoxious sometimes— just working with her on the ground, not riding— but she’s very sweet and not mean in any way.
When you’re actually riding, she’s awesome, an absolute angel, so easy to ride. She’s just great. I mean, obviously, like any horse, there are things that you have to work on with her. She can be a little wiggly, off-balance sometimes, but overall she’s just a really, really fun horse.”
Finally, what do you love most about Lu?
“In general, you are forming a bond with whatever horse you’re riding. I feel like that connection is so special, because you need so much trust. You’re riding an at least a thousand-pound animal and a lot of stuff can go wrong, and it can be really dangerous… but, that’s what makes it all the more special when you do build that trusting relationship between you and your horse. It’s just really great.
And, also, fun fact, when you’re riding or in close contact, in general, even on the ground, your heartbeats sync together which I think is really cool!”
