By Eliot

I’m not used to taking centre stage, but I’ll do my best! So if you don’t know me, I’m Eliot and I’ll tell you a bit about myself and my time at Park Lane Stables.

I’m famously known as the quiet one (I heard Natalie describe me as a ‘forgotten hero’, which I think is kind of nice). I’ve been at Park Lane Stables for as long as I can remember and am a bit of an all-rounder, but because I’m gentle and kind I spend a lot of time with the youngest and the most vulnerable humans. It takes me a while to wake up in the morning though, so I do sometimes need a push start. Once I’m awake, though, I’ll do everything from calm therapy sessions to jumping around an arena with a Pony Clubber on my back.

There have been many special humans to me over the years but I have a special connection to two of them. I’m named in honour of Katie Eliot, who rode at the Stables every Saturday for years and was a much-loved member of the Park Lane family. This was before I arrived – her favourite horse was Eddy, who’s still here today. But sadly Katie died, and we decided to name a pony in her honour as Park Lane was so important to her and she to us. Then I arrived and became Eliot, a name I wear with pride even though we never met.

Annie was another regular, and we used to have such fun together. She was famously always sunny, happy and kind, and Park Lane Stables was her special place too. But Annie died of meningitis suddenly at just 10 years old. Annie’s parents asked if a pony could be named after her, and little Whizz, who became a media star as the #TinyPonyAtYourWindow during lockdown, became Annie’s Whizz. Annie is also remembered in an annual award at Park Lane Stables, where a current participant is rewarded for being ‘most Annie-like’.

Both Katie and Annie are also remembered in annual awards at Park Lane Stables, where a current participant is awarded for resilience in the name of Katie, and another for being ‘most Annie-like’.

The photo of Annie with Eliot shown at the recent Brentford vs Arsenal match

Only recently a photo of me and Annie was shown on the giant screen at the Brentford vs Arsenal football match. I’m not sure I know what this means, but it doesn’t stop me feeling quietly proud. Always quietly.

Gosh, this has turned into a sad post. But the happy part is that the legacy of these two young humans lives on, and we all do our best to make Park Lane Stables the happiest place possible for today’s participants.

Read about Annie and Eliot in Annie and her special legacy

Our ponies are the true heroes of Park Lane Stables! They give so much so happily, and we make sure they receive the very best care that we can give them. Caring for 25 horses is scarily costly, and paid for exclusively through donations and fundraising. If you’d like to thank our ponies with a bale of hay or a tasty salt lick, just head to our Donate page. Every single donation helps to fill the feed store.

The horse’s mouth blog: Wait, you want me to do this month’s blog?

From the little girl with dreams, to the coach who’s not looking back