If you’ve been following my social media for the past few months, you’ve likely seen the #PetYourPony or #PraiseYourPony hashtags on my social media stories. In this week’s blog, it’s time to let you know where that came from!
One of my biggest beliefs is that no matter how a horse does after a round or a ride that they deserve praise for their effort. After all, the only reason they’re jumping a course, running around three barrels, or breaking out of a starting gate to run against other horses is because we ask them to.
If you’re standing next to me when I’m photographing any sort of horse event, you’ll likely hear me quietly willing connections to “pet you pony” (yes, I know it annoys some people that others call horses ponies, but it is catchy, so it stuck) after the competition or ride is over. Not only is it a great photo opportunity – and some of the riders’ or grooms’ favorite photos if their reactions to my photos are any indication – but it’s just being fair to your horse.
And so #PetYourPony was born.
Over the past year or so I’ve posted many photos of horses getting extra attention moreso because, honestly, they are my favorite to take than because of the hashtag. And just like with the connections, they also get good reactions from the public – which is a huge bonus in my mind.
I think one of the biggest disconnects between the non-horsey public and the horse world is that the public thinks most of us just use horses for our own gains. Which, unfortunately, is a fair assessment when they just see the competition and not the post ride attention a horse gets the few times they’re watching equestrian sports.
With a few of the pages I manage being aimed toward the non-horsey set, those photos are perfect to show the “behind the scenes” that only those involved with horses see.
However, after a conversation a few weeks ago with a friend, #PetYourPony has become #PraiseYourPony because of two things – 1) there are so much more to the photos than just petting and 2) (I say this jokingly) it will hopefully prevent a ton of enthusiastic slaps if it ever becomes more than just a fun social media hashtag.
While I have no hopes or expectations of #PraiseYourPony going viral or even going outside of Pyrois Media’s social channels, the goal is that those horse(wo)men who do see it remember to give their horses some extra love at the end of rides.
After all, it doesn’t hurt anything to give people an extra reason to call you a “horse girl,” which in my mind is the ultimate compliment!
