Mitt Romney Is Riding A Horse, Okay?

If you think that Canadian-born Chryslers are the only means of conveyance utilized by current presidential aspirant Mitt Romney, well then, think again! While Romney's first love may have been "cars and chrome and fins and roaring motors," he's been known to mount his share of trusty steeds as well. Don't believe me? Here's a picture:

This photo, snapped by Ethan Hill (great photographer whose work you are likely familiar with) for a 2004 Newsweek portrait session, depicts Romney on one of his horses -- we're presuming one of the "six-figure warmbloods" (and one must get this correct) mentioned in this recent New York Times profile, "Two Romneys: Wealthy Man, Thrifty Habits." And it should be said, the man looks gorgeous. Staring brightly into the middle distance against a darkening sky, the Mitt you see here is still a few years removed from having to worry about the sturm und drang of the presidential horse race. The horse looks happy as well, perhaps safe in the knowledge that Romney is secured to the top of him, and not the other way around.

Looking at this, it's pretty easy to imagine how Jon Huntsman got it in his head that the best way to compete for the nomination was to rack up an impressive array of glossy magazine profiles.

Anyway, I read elsewhere that Romney has some sort of "1 percent problem" that's not "going away"? Well, if you ask me, I don't see it.

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Comments

[mjeffn]

11:36 AM on 04/12/2012

This is the dumbest picture of Romney yet. He is posed as Western style rider on an English Riding Saddle holding the reins of an English riding style halter and bit. In English style riding he would have a rein in each hand, not a hand on his thigh like a fck'n cowboy.

Will this picture become Romney's "windsurfing" picture in the horse world? It should.

[mjeffn]

11:53 AM on 04/12/2012

oooppps.......I meant to write bridle.

Also, I think I recognize the bit Romney has in the horses mouth. It is a very sever one that many consider cruel to use.

[judy covey]

25 minutes ago ( 6:01 AM)

good to know. great, so obama signs a bill nov 18th, 2011, allowing us slaughterhouses to rear their ugly heads again, appoints ken salizar the head of the dept of the interior, and lets the blm practically destroy our wild horses without halt. congress signed a letter to salizar calling for an end to the roundups 2 years ago and nothing changes. now romney is cruel to animals too? let's get barbara boxer or dianne feinstein in office!

[Debbie100]

08:24 PM on 04/11/2012

His wife was right, when Rmoney's "unzipped" he's a real party animal.

[mjeffn]

11:54 AM on 04/12/2012

heh......she said that when he is "unzipped" he isn't "stiff"

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[redhead55]

06:57 PM on 04/10/2012

It looks like Mittens was photoshopped on the horse. He looks to be sitting still in the saddle while the horse looks to be moving forward. Just strange. And you can almost see what the horse is thinking, "I hope I get to ride inside on the way back from this photo shoot."

[redhead55]

06:51 PM on 04/10/2012

An empty suit playing like he's riding a horse. But the black clouds are fitting.

[IndependentBadger]

06:50 PM on 04/10/2012

Johnny Cash coulda pulled it off.

Romney just looks like the Grim Reaper's creepy nephew-in-law.

[1oldhippie]

06:47 PM on 04/10/2012

HORSEHOCKEY

[Thomas Bradley]

06:33 PM on 04/10/2012

It's a silly picture.

[francny]

05:49 PM on 04/10/2012

That saddle is too small for him, looks like it is a prop or belongs to his wife. The bridle and reins are not dressage tack, rather more for western riding. You never put one hand on your leg while riding english, only in western riding. The horse's neck is too far forward. This looks like a cut and paste photo. And why is discussing a rich man's sport, dressage when he wants to appeal to the middle class. Do you know how much a dressage horse costs and the money you need to invest to train them? It is HUGE. And if his wife isn't showing the horses, then they are also paying professionals to ride them in shows so they can get their dressage points, which is extremely costly. I have ridden all my life, but I could never dream to afford one dressage horse, let alone a stable of them. That costs millions! And no way does Romney know how to ride. He may go on a trail ride in a western saddle so he can hold on, but that's about it Every woman who rides owns what many call a "husband horse", meaning a horse that a child can ride or a husband who doesn't know anything about horses. They are docile and very stable to ride. Nothing like the horse pictured above.

[Sunnyhorse]

08:56 PM on 04/10/2012

Uh, that is most definitely an English bridle, not Western -- Mittens is just holding the reins wrong. (I ride hunters.)

[mjeffn]

11:49 AM on 04/12/2012

My daughter used to ride........in passenger seat as I drove her to and from the stable.....and, the horses. She was into showing all three, Hunter/Jumper, Dressage and the occasional Cross Country. She also loved to go on hunts. I'm was never into it. The horses seemed kind of nuts and unpredictable to me. Nobody ever said anything to me about "husband horses". I guess they didn't want me around. :( haha

Even I know enough about it to recognize the saddle and bridal don't go along with his cowboy seat. It looks like a jumping saddle to me. It also looks like a very sever cruel bit he is using in the horses mouth.

[judy covey]

22 minutes ago ( 6:03 AM)

good call! i'm glad someone knows a lot about horses! thanks~

[Remy M. Maisel]

06:14 PM on 02/24/2012

Of course if you ride horses, you think he looks ridiculous sitting in a dressage saddle like a cowboy, and in jeans, and without a helmet...Curious, it looks like the horse is moving pretty fast, but Mitt is ramrod straight and unmoving and his clothes appear not to be mussed. Strange picture.

[freedom1947]

12:08 PM on 02/22/2012

He forgt his hat, mask and Tonto.

[Carrie Avritt]

02:17 AM on 02/18/2012

That horse looks so pissed. And jeans in a dressage saddle, really? This is further proof that the man is an idiot.

[David Riley]

07:57 AM on 02/17/2012

Romney is a walking blood supply for a great haircut.

[Gregg Hall]

11:19 PM on 02/16/2012

Face it: Romney is a Mormon Robot....

[docbets]

10:13 PM on 02/16/2012

That is one weird picture. He is not a rider.

[freedom1947]

12:09 PM on 02/22/2012

It's a stuffed horse.

[zelduh]

08:14 PM on 02/16/2012

He looks stiff and uncomfortable in that photo. He looks stiff and uncomfortable in real life.