I got my first pony when I was five. I was so angry that Eomer got one first! I saw no reason why he should, just because he was the boy. (To my understanding, he felt the same way for Theodred.) There were plenty enough horses in Rohan. After I got him, though, Hala became my best friend, as much as my brother. The villagers soon grew used to seeing the tiny girl with the mouse-colored pony come and go; to this day, I have no idea why I was allowed so much freedom. By that time Papa and Mother were dead, so I suppose Uncle thought that he did me a kindness by letting me run free-though for a king, surely he lacked foresight on this matter. Oh, but Hala. presented him to me on Uncle's behalf with his characteristic gruffness, but that was just as well. Any theatrics of presentation would have been lost on me: My eyes were only for the sleek, plump, fluffy-maned and bushy tailed (deceptively soft-looking) little beast with the calculating eyes.
He was not an easy pony, but he taught me a great deal. I learned to respect him, and he in return gave me the prickly sort of affection only to be found in a certain sort of person. We used to ride off in the hills, at first with my brother and cousin, and later on our own when they tired of our company. I'm sure Uncle would have beat those two for leaving the future shieldmaiden to her own devices, but he was always underestimating me. It was one of his charms, you know, if an irritating one. –It was one of the saddest days of my young life when Hala grew too old for our rambles, and I too big. He was later pastured with a family in the village with need of a pony, but I would often go to visit him, though never with my new (larger) horse. That would have been inexcusable, and much begrudged by the pride of ponies.