This “Smiling” Horse Practically Steals A Bride’s Thunder in Viral Photo
When Patti Womer, 21, of Mount Pleasant Mills, Pennsylvania got married in September, she knew she wanted to include her two horses, Cricket and Dutch, from her childhood in her wedding ceremony as well. But she and her husband, Kelvin, had no idea their wedding photos would end up going viral because of her horses.
In a now-viral post, Patti's horse Cricket can be seen "smiling" for her happy owner during her nuptials. Cricket's joyful enthusiasm for her owner has even lead some to joke that the horse committed the biggest wedding faux pas of all: stealing the Bride's thunder.
Womer and her father bought Cricket and Dutch when Womer was eight years old. Womer said over email that almost immediately afterwards, she started competing in shows like rodeos, barrel racing, and pole bending competitions, after being introduced to the sport through friends.
Over email, Womer explained that Cricket and Dutch actually have very unique personalities, and that when the two horses are separated, "they act like the worst horses ever." Womer explained that the smiley photo of Cricket was actually just a once-in-a-lifetime coincidence, and that the horse had actually been shaking her head because of a fly in particularly photogenic way. "Since she was just shaking her head," she said, "it's not really common to catch a picture like this, which is why I think it got so much attention."
Ever since then, the two horses have been a huge part of her life. After her father passed away last year, Womer struggled with a way to represent him at her wedding. Womer said that two months before the wedding, someone recommended the horses walk her down the aisle, and Womer loved the idea. Cricket and Dutch accompanied her down the aisle, with Dutch carrying an empty saddle to honor her late father.
As for what Womer thinks of all this? She told Yahoo Style that she doesn't mind that Cricket stole some of the attention away from her on her wedding saying, "Dutch and Cricket are such a big part of me, and I will always have a special place in my heart for them." The viral response to their photo has also surprised Kelvin. Womer says her new husband thinks the newfound fame is "just as insane as I do."
Photos courtesy of Tony Bendele Photography.
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