I’m going to do it. I’m going to be the cute picture buzzkill, but oh my god. There are so many reasons a child that tiny shouldn’t be handling any significantly-sized horse alone, let alone a draft breed. Horses are prey animals, and more prone to panic, no matter how well-trained they are.

Let me put it this way. An eight hundred pound donkey managed to catch me off balance and put my ass on the ground, and I’m a grown woman. I gave myself rope burn keeping a hold on the lead, and she could have easily stomped my head in, if she hadn’t spooked when I fell and been trying to get away.

A horse this size could easily weigh more than a ton, and I don’t like the kid’s chances if it were to spook and run, especially if part of her gets caught up in that loop of lead, or she doesn’t let go.

Interact with large animals of any species responsibly, people.