Whether it be through Barbie dolls, cowboys or fairy tales, the “horse craze” has characterized many kids’ childhoods. However, for some South students and faculty members, this hobby has gone past the classic elementary years, as riding horses has become a major part of their everyday lives.

For English teacher Debbie Cohen, there was always a part of her that was very intrigued with horseback riding even before she was on a horse. When Cohen lived in Los Angeles, there was an equestrian area about ten minutes from her house, and this helped spark her interest in horses.

“Basically, people used to ride around town, and there are crosswalk buttons for the pedestrians and then there is one maybe a few feet higher for people on horseback,” Cohen said. “I was just always so enchanted by that, and I used to go around and look and hope that there was someone riding their horse.”

Junior Ashley Meek also believes that riding a horse has always been something that she knew was right for her. Meek started riding when she was six years old, and she has been involved with horseback riding ever since. She credits her mother’s friend, Stephanie Wagner, for letting Meek sit on her horse when she was only three.

“Before lessons, I did like 10,000 pony rides at fairs and stuff, and I would go around again and again,” Meek recalls. “We have a video [of my first real lesson], and the trainer is telling me that bugs would fly in my mouth because I was smiling so big.”

Practicing almost six days a week at a local stable called Freedom Woods has made the barn practically her second home, according to Meek. It is also where her horse, Clockwork, is kept at all times.

“His show name is Clockwork but we call him Hero, and he’s really adorable,” Meek explained. “He’s like a big dog; he is so cute, and he licks things all the time. He’s an experienced horse, and we’ve achieved a lot together […] It was just one of those things where it was a good fit from the beginning.”

In her experiences with riding horses, sophomore Lauren Tillman explains that the bond a rider has with his or her horse is the most important part of riding. According to Tillman, that healthy communication between both the rider and the horse is the key to success.

“It sounds so crazy, because they don’t even speak English, but you are on a team, and you are [in] a partnership with this animal,” Tillman said. “It’s like no, I don’t have boys. I have horses.”

Junior Lilly Ludwig, an avid equestrian, can attest to this bond with horses as well. She said that her horses have always been there for her no matter the circumstances. For Ludwig, riding horses has always been a way to relieve stress from the natural “ups and downs” of life.

“It’s definitely helped me understand my identity and my purpose,” Ludwig said. “Having the close bonds and the really emotional experiences with horses that I’ve leased has sort of confirmed in my mind that this is where I belong, and this is what I want to do.”

But not all of horseback riding is centered around “good times”. Meek expresses that horseback riding is an extremely competitive sport. She attributes her successes to the competitive drive that motivated her when she may have been failing.

“You have to learn to stand back up when you’ve fallen,” Meek said. “When I got my new horse, I had a ton of goals that I wanted to achieve, and then in one show we just won everything. We wiped it clean. I was the one to beat for the first time in my life.”

The teamwork that has to take place while riding horses is vital, according to Ludwig. She explains that trust, just like in any relationship, is the highest priority.

“I was riding a horse named Leo, and we were approaching a fence to jump,” Ludwig said. “I had no idea how we were going to get over that, because we had a bad approach. I just sat back and trusted him to make the jump, and we nailed it. It reminded me that we are never in complete control of life, and sometimes you just have to let go of the reigns and trust that you’re going to make it over the fence.”