BY LAUREN MAULDIN
If there’s one thing the internet is good for, it’s a solid viral sensation. First, there was dog shaming. You know, those hilarious hand-written signs photographed next to an innocent looking dog… who turned out to not be that innocent at all.
Equestrians didn’t want to feel out of the trend, so we created our own meme version — horse shaming. I’ve seen the posts, and think they’re funny. After all, horses do completely ridiculous things. Mine goes into a full on panic hours after a horse fly has left, because he realizes that he lives in a world where horse flies exist and that means there could be horse flies AT ANY TIME!
Quirks like this can make him frustrating, but they’re also endearing to me. They’re endearing, because when I look at my horse I don’t see the list of eccentricities that make him extremely high maintenance (aka expensive). Instead, when I look at him… I see my heart.
So today, I wanted to flip “horse shaming” on its head. Instead of writing up all the ways our animals give us ulcers (anyone know if GastroGard is appropriate for human consumption? asking for a friend…), I wanted to showcase the ways that they’re special. I wanted to highlight the things they do for us, because at the end of the day — they’re our best friends.
And there’s no shame in that game.
I love looking at all of these “horse-loving” signs. Whether they’re athletes who have won a ton of blue ribbons for their owners or quiet friends after a hard day, horses bring out the best in us. Without them, I don’t know where I’d be today… and there aren’t enough signs in the world to show my appreciation for that.
If you have a special horse in your life you’d love to shower with affection, submit your own “horse-loving” sign to The Plaid Horse. We’d love to feature it on social media and/or the blog, and keep the trend of happiness going!
About the Author: Lauren holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of California Riverside, and is a lifelong rider and writer. Beyond equestrian journalism, she explores body positivity, mental health and addiction through personal narrative. She enjoys showing on the local hunter/jumper circuit in Austin, Texas.
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