Building Connections: Marley Cook

While he was interning at Whispering Manes, Cook’s focus was on the horses, his colleagues around the barn and the essential work they were doing for center’s riders in the ring.

“He knows about horses, and horse behavior and he knows how to deal with the kids that might be afraid of horses,” Piñon said of Cook. “And he helps take some of that fear away. With him here specifically, I know that one of the riders feels better with Marley. [The rider] has a lot of trouble dismounting from the horse. That’s something that we’ve been practicing, but having Marley here, that really helps him.”

Cook’s passion for horses began during his childhood in Water Valley when he and his father, Broderick, came upon a starving horse not far from their home.

They rescued the horse, nursed her back to health, and named her Sally. And once Sally was healthy and Cook felt more comfortable with the Tennessee Walker, he took to riding Sally as often as he could.

He still, of course, enjoys spending time with her when he returns home.

Eventually, Cook took his love of horses with him to Middle Tennessee where, while he played football, he took animal science classes that allowed him to help provide care for horses at a nearby equine center.

When he came to Miami, he shared that experience and his love of horses with Lopez, who suggested the internship at Whispering Manes as part of his course of study.

It was, Cook said, a natural fit.

“This isn’t about me now. It’s about the community,” Cook said. “I’ve got this opportunity to help the kids and the community. … I would say my favorite part is just being around [the kids] and seeing them have a smile at the end of the day. … This is all about them.”

Cook has balanced his work at Whispering Manes with both his responsibilities in the classroom and on the football field.

The redshirt senior is expected to add depth and experience to a defensive line unit that was a force for the Hurricanes last year.

Cook, who this offseason set a new Hurricanes squat record when he lifted 705 pounds during a workout, used spring practice to not only get to know his new teammates, but to master Miami’s playbook and learn from his new coaches.

So far, he says, the process has gone smoothly.

“Everything’s been going great with not only me, but my teammates, too,” Cook said of his first weeks as a Hurricane. “I love seeing everybody improve. And my coaches, my coaches love to teach. They’re…