Horsing around with the USU Horse

Instagram user @the_usu_Horse, an account dedicated to two sophomores at USU dressing as a horse, wrote in the caption of a post, “November 17th, 2024, WATCH OUT”. 

“We’re planning something big,”the front half of the Horse said. “It’s going to be really big.”

The Horse did not give exact details as to what the event could entail but emphasized it would be something major. The lack of clues in their cryptic post led viewers to use their imaginations in guessing what the event could be.

“You’ll need to be looking forward to it,” the back half of the Horse said. “Putting it on their calendar.”

The Horse preferred to keep their identities hidden, referring to themselves only as the head or front said. and the butt or back. 

“We like to keep a close circle,” said the front.

The actor in the back of the Horse agreed with the statement.

“I feel like exposing them would put them in danger,” the back said.

The decision as to who would be the front of the Horse and who would be the back was unanimously agreed upon after some practice.

“I have been the front, but I honestly feel like we’ve practiced this way and done it this way. We’re just kind of in a groove. You know, he has more head skills. I have more butt skills, ”the back said. “The first time was terrible, so we were thinking we would trade off, but as we started doing more and more stunts, it’s just more comfortable back here.”

The actor in the front of the Horse claimed the two had always been the Horse and it wasn’t a mere costume.

“Well, I think it started with our birth in the stables,” the front said.

In reality, the Horse was just a costume made for a party. After, it became a tradition to dress as the Horse and attend various events.

“Yeah, there was an inspiration,” the back said. “We went to a party, and we were thinking it’d be funny if we showed up as a horse. And then we were like, ‘Yeah’ We just wanted to show up to a party dressed up as a horse.”

This tradition started in 2023 on the first True Aggie Night of the fall semester and has continued ever since. The actors have dubbed it the Horse’s birthday, making the Horse only one year old.

The Horse revealed the costume was homemade, using craft fabric from JOANN Fabric and Craft Store tobe more authentic.

“We kind of figured out that commercial horse costumes are too expensive,” the front said. “We wanted to make one more authentic.”

The USU Horse can be seen at campus events, including True Aggie Night.

“People will see us when they least expect it,”the back said, “Or at True Aggie.”

The Horse enjoys kissing people on the Block A, and wants to create a tradition of kissing Mr. USU on True Aggie Night.

“We kissed the last Mr. USU, so we want to have a call to action for the new Mr. USU,” the back said. “I feel like you’re not Mr. USU until you kiss the Horse.”

Being the Horse can be difficult at times. With limited vision in the costume, the Horse has resorted to other senses to find his way around.

“There’s almost no visibility from either of us,” the back said. “We have to use context clues. Instincts, ground feel, taste, smell.” The Horse stressed the importance of Nov. 17, leaving almost no clues as to what will happen.

“The plan is big,” the back said. “Mark your calendars.”