Have you ever met an animal that looks unique yet beautiful in the most amazing way?
If yes, you would agree with me when I say Tattoo is one of such outstandingly beautiful animals!
Tattoo, an appaloosa horse, in this case, is not just a standard ‘painted horse’ but stands out with his eye-catching and dazzling coat pattern.
It is seldom possible that you won’t fall in love with the exquisite coat design of this cutie at first sight!
In an interview with his owner, Branigan, she disclosed that she was a Sophomore in college and had only come to serve her internship at a breeder barn where she started learning how to take care of pregnant mares.
“Tattoo came into this world on May 18, and his mama gave birth to him early in the morning,” she remembers. “I met baby Tattoo when he was only one hour old, soaking wet and learning to stand.”
His name, “Tattoo,” means “a rhythmic tapping or drumming.” Branigan says her mother decided to pick that name because “the sight of him literally throws my heart into drumming, ever since I met him.”
“I was in the stall, holding Tattoo in my lap, crying my eyes out,” Branigan says. “I was madly in love at first sight. They both said, ‘Oh, no…’ We all knew that raising and training my own horse was my dream, but this foal was not mine, but deep in my heart I knew that I wanted him to be.”
Branigan decided to make it her role to help Tattoo get accustomed to people. They created a bond and were always seen cuddling together, even while Tattoo napped!
Tattoo and his mother trusted Branigan so much that she was allowed to halter him, which means placing the strap around his neck, at three weeks old!
However, everything was brought to an abrupt end after six months when she was informed that her best friend had been sold.
Branigan became devastated and sad because she knew she had only two months to say farewell to her best horse.
An unexpected turn of events occurred on Christmas morning when Branigan was given a portrait of Tattoo. She got so emotional and shed some tears before her eyes got a glimpse of the “transfer of ownership” written below the picture.
It turns out her parents had purchased Tattoo six months earlier.
She was thrilled and filled with great joy as she realized that Tattoo was hers all along!
It was a dream come true for the young horse-trainer-to-be, who says she and Tattoo experienced many “firsts” together at horse shows and competitions.
Now, Tattoo loves getting into things, playing chase with Branigan, and meeting miniature horses and donkeys.
