EC Feel Good Story of the Week: Horse-Themed Homecoming Invitation
Photo courtesy of Anna Hutlas.
By: Brittany Bevis
More often than not, teens living in today’s society find themselves on the wrong side of news coverage. A simple Internet search reveals some of the top headlines of the day.
- Report on Tennessee Teen Inmate Suicide Release
- Juvenile Jail Escape Latest For Troubled Facility
- Ice Bucket Crime Against Special Needs Teen
- Second Girl Charged in Slender Man Stabbing to Get Mental Exam
- Toledo Teens’ Path to Murder
- Teens Charged After Man Stabbed in Home Invasion
In a generation obsessed with the instant gratification technology provides via social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Vine, news certainly travels fast. Bad news travels even faster. Sometimes, it’s nice to read a “feel good” story, something short and sweet that warms the heart, satisfies the soul, and sets the mind at ease.
Last week’s EC Feel Good story featured 11-year-old Daniel Novacek of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who has developed a special bond with one of his mother’s APHA broodmares named “Lola.” Daniel regularly practices his saxophone playing outdoors, especially for Lola, because she enjoys the soothing sounds of soft jazz.
This week, we came across another sweet story with an equine twist. Anna Hutlas of Shreveport, Louisiana is known by many as an active APHA and PtHA competitor who regularly competes in all-around events with her gelding, Don’t Rock My World, aka “Rocko.” In addition to being active on the horse show circuit, Anna works hard on her academics at Loyola College Preparatory Academy and is a member of the Loyola Flyer cheerleaders.
Anna recently celebrated a birthday on August 31st, but a belated birthday surprise came a few weeks later when she was treated to a very special homecoming invitation from a young suitor who did his research…
Mitchell came up with a very sweet way to ask Anna to the school’s homecoming dance on Saturday, October 4th. Armed with a plush stuffed horse and handmade sign that read, “Hope you’ll HORSE around with me at HOCO!” Mitchell made his move.
“I said yes, of course, and I was so surprised when he asked me!” Anna says. “Homecoming is our formal dance that’s associated with our football game, and it’s a really fun dance to attend.”
“I thought it was really clever how he asked me, because [showing horses] isn’t too common where I live. I’m really excited that he knows something about what I do and could incorporate that into how he asked me.”
Young men, take note. Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.
If you have a great idea for a future EC Feel Good story, email b.bevis@equinechronicle.com and it might be featured right here on EquineChronicle.com and on our The Equine Chronicle Facebook page!
UPDATE: Just moments after this story was posted, we received another adorable photo from EquineChronicle.com reader Michelle Flood.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Flood.
“My daughter’s boyfriend did something similar,” Flood says. “He got her horse all tacked up and ready to ride all by himself and greeted us as we drove up with horse, flowers, and the ‘neck ribbon’ saying homecoming. It’s certainly the way to a horse girl’s heart!”
