Have you ever been jealous of a horse’s mane? Well, a Haflinger mare named Storm has hair that'll make you wish you rocked her gorgeous locks. This breed of horse is known for its beautiful mane, and Storm doesn't disappoint. She has golden, wavy hair that trails down her side. It's so long that she's earned the nickname “Rapunzel” after the iconic fairy tale character.
As it turns out, Storm is also twinning with her human, Naomi Beckers. The two have similarly gorgeous heads of hair that match in color and texture. Aside from their coifs, they share a loving bond built on trust and mutual affection. They go riding together, of course, but Beckers isn't afraid to get more adventurous. One of the latest activities they've tried is cycling, in which Beckers rides her bike and Storm treks alongside her.
When the two aren't being active together, they pose for ethereal photographs that look they've been plucked from the pages of a storybook. Their picturesque images have helped grow their Instagram account where Storm shines like the internet star that she is.
We had the opportunity to speak with Beckers about what it was like to meet Storm for the first time, and how their relationship has evolved since then. Scroll down to read My Modern Met's exclusive interview.
Is Storm the first horse you've owned?
Yes, Storm is the first horse I’ve owned myself. She’s my childhood dream that came true!
What was your experience with horses prior to Storm?
Prior to Storm, I rode multiple different horses, yet none of them came close to the bond I built with Storm. She really taught me how to listen to a horse, look further into the needs of horses and that there’s so much more fun stuff to do besides riding (which is even more fun).
What do you remember from the first time you met Storm?
Very cliche, but it was love at first sight, without a doubt. She was sweating like crazy with her thick winter coat and slightly overweight, but I simply couldn’t resist that adorable face. I’d secretly hoped I wouldn’t like her that much since it wasn’t in my plan to buy a horse already. I still had to arrange everything at that point. However, I felt a connection straight away and I knew I wouldn’t be able to get her off my mind. So, I made the decision to buy her within a week. Never regretted that choice a single second.
For those who have never ridden (or even been near) a horse, can you give us some insight into what it's like to care for one, cultivate a relationship, etc?
Properly caring for a horse does definitely require some effort besides proper basic care. In my opinion, the most important thing is to listen to your horse, try to learn her needs so you can work on that together in a way that suits your horse best. Not every horse learns the same way, so finding out what works is critical. Your horse will enjoy spending time with you and the relationship will follow automatically, which eventually results in a willing and happy horse.
How has your bond with Storm evolved over the years?
I feel like listening to her and trying to fulfill all her needs is the main reason our bond grew stronger. Storm is a horse that doesn’t show her mood or discomfort easily. Over the years I can definitely say I learned to focus on every little sign which helped me to read her a lot better. By listening to her signs and giving her “a voice” I think we created a pretty good partnership with mutual respect.
You have said you were only intending to post a few pictures of Storm, and then she became Insta-famous! What is it like to have achieved this fame?
It's very special to be able to entertain people with the content of my horse. Storm means everything to me, so being able to share a glimpse of that with everyone interested in following us means a lot to me.
What's on the horizon for you?
I don’t have any specific plans in the near future. All I hope to do is spend a lot more years together with Storm in good health. I’ll surely try to share as much of our adventures with everyone and we’ll see what will cross our path from thereon.
Naomi Beckers & Storm: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Naomi Beckers.
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