Mongolian warriors used to ride horses bareback through the plains of Siberia, firing off arrows with deadly accuracy as they clung to the sides of their mounts at full gallop. Ceremoniously painting their Pintos for the solstice hunt. Native Americans chased down two-ton bison to feed their tribe for the long winter. American adventurers crossed the whole country with their trusty steeds, summiting mountains and crossing rivers on a horse’s velvety flanks before building up the Western frontier. 

Equestrianisms used to be so epic, but these days, if you share even an inkling of interest in these majestic creatures, you risk assimilating yourself with the likes of creepily obsessive «Horse Girls.» The type of girls who would run around on all fours in middle school, eating grass at recess, and raving about how much they loved riding «Cinnamon» over the weekend. These are the obsessive horse-fans who have effectively ruined horses in the modern era, creating an uncomfortably cringeworthy fantasy around their favorite animals. How did we get here?

Via u/Sam_Pull