On the family farm, scenes like this are not uncommon. One and a half-year-old Lucy Ugarte loves to cuddle with her gentle horse Brooke’s big nose, while Brooke remains still, gently responding to her affection.
Lucy’s mother, Rachel Ugarte, shared a video on Instagram showcasing the moments between little Lucy and Brooke. Many online viewers expressed sentiments like, “Oh my goodness, my heart is melting!”
Their first embrace occurred while a farrier was shoeing Brooke, during which Mrs. Ugarte creatively picked up the then two-week-old Lucy to show her Brooke’s tender gaze.
Mrs. Ugarte told the Epoch Times that it was a miraculous moment. She revealed, “I thought, ‘This is truly a miraculous moment,’ but later on, Lucy often embraces the beloved horse, and such scenes have become ordinary. They simply enjoy being together.”
The mother believes Lucy is a horse-loving girl. Mrs. Ugarte herself had a deep fondness for horses in the past. Seeing her daughter share the same passion for horses felt truly special, especially since her two older daughters did not have the same hobby.
Brooke is no ordinary horse. Currently, the 14-year-old Quarter Horse may be enjoying its retirement years with the Ugarte family at their farm in North Port, Florida. In its prime, Brooke was the 3-year-old world champion at the Paint Quarter Horse Pinto circuit.
Now, for the past seven years, Brooke has been the princess of their stable at the Ugarte family farm in North Port, Florida.
Mrs. Ugarte shared that Brooke is “genuinely good-hearted” and has “a strong desire to please.” Whenever the owner feels down or disappointed, Brooke becomes restless. She wishes all horses had kind hearts, but the reality is not always so. Some horses have temperamental tendencies or tend to be mischievous.
Mrs. Ugarte added, “I used to make a living training horses, and I knew Brooke and its owners. We were involved in equestrian performances and training their horses, but I stopped once I had children.”
Since smelling the scent of a horse for the first time, Lucy has shown a clear preference for embracing and petting horses and riding on their backs.
Lucy and Brooke meet almost daily. Whenever Mrs. Ugarte goes to feed the horses, Lucy runs to the gate shouting, “Horse, horse, Brooke, Brooke, Brooke!”
Thus, it has become a cherished ritual. They arrive at Brooke’s stable, greeted by the scents of straw, horses, and the barn. The mother encourages her daughter as Brooke eagerly awaits.
Lucy demonstrates for us, hugging and kissing Brooke. With closed eyes, Brooke swats away flies while embracing Lucy, sharing a special moment between horse and young girl. This is the heartwarming scene described by Mrs. Ugarte.
Mrs. Ugarte said, “Lucy loves Brooke, and Brooke reciprocates her love.”
After Lucy began walking, she even started leading the massive horse around the farm on her own, with the horse leisurely following behind her.
However, despite Brooke’s reliable and especially gentle demeanor, seemingly aware of the little companion by its side, it remains still. Yet, Mrs. Ugarte always ensures she captures the walking companions at the right moment, ready to step in case of any unforeseen events.
Mrs. Ugarte explained, “If someone came with a big tractor and started cutting down some dead trees, it wouldn’t be a day I’d choose for Lucy to be holding Brooke.”
The initial video garnered significant attention online. The family’s Facebook page, Dreaming Tree Farms, initially had relatively few followers. However, after the video of Lucy cuddling Brooke was shared, it reached around a million views.
Mrs. Ugarte expressed, “I just wanted to upload what people wanted to see, and we will share more content. It made me realize that people genuinely want to see sweet, kind, and happy things.”