BY LAUREN MAULDIN

I’m in my mid-thirties, and there are two things that will, without fail, make me cry: the scene from Black Beauty when the kids have to sell Merrylegs, and videos of little girls getting surprised with their first horse at Christmas. 

I think it’s because I remember what it was like to want it so badly. For may of us, riding and horse ownership feels like an impossible dream. It’s expensive. It’s a hard thing for non-horse people to get. Owning a horse is a financial hardship that many families can’t make work, and even if there are funds it takes incredible commitment and patience.

But I don’t have to tell you any of that, we all know. We also know how magical that first horse is, and watching these videos never fails to hit me with all the feels. Whether you’re still wishing for your first horse or you’ve got a herd waiting to be fed at the barn, Merry Christmas and I hope you never forget the magic.