5-Year-Old Girl Dances 50s Swing With Rescued Horse — The Judge HITS the Button Crying

Hi everyone. My name is Lauren. I am 5 years old and I am from a small town in Oregon. I am here today with my best friend in the whole world. His name is Honey because his coat is the color of warm honey in the sunlight. He is standing right here next to me and I love him more than anything. I want to tell you about how we met. My daddy is a veterinarian. That means he helps animals when they are sick or hurt. One day last year a farmer called my daddy because there was a horse on his property that was very very sick. My daddy drove out there and when he saw this horse he almost cried. The horse was so skinny you could see all his ribs through his skin. His legs were shaking because he was too weak to stand properly. He had not been given food or water the right way for a long time. Nobody had loved him or taken care of him. My daddy said the horse looked into his eyes and it was like he was asking for help. Like he was saying please do not leave me here. My daddy knew right away that this was not ok. This was not how you treat an animal. This was not how you treat any living thing. So he called the people who make sure animals are safe and he told them what he saw. He showed them pictures. He made a report. And then he asked if he could take the horse home with him to help him get better. They said yes. For three months my daddy worked every single day to save this horse. He gave him medicine. He gave him special food. He wrapped his legs. He brushed his coat so gently. And slowly slowly the horse started to heal. His ribs did not show anymore. His legs got stronger. His eyes got brighter. First time I walked up to Honey I was a little scared because he was so big and I am so small. But when I put my hand on his nose he lowered his head down to me like he was saying hello little one. And I felt something in my heart. It was like we knew each other already. Like maybe we were friends in another life and now we found each other again. My mommy says that sometimes souls recognize each other even if they have never met before. I think that is what happened with me and Honey. Every day after school I would run outside to see him. I would brush his mane and talk to him about my day. I would tell him about my friends and my teacher and the things I learned. And he would listen. He would nudge me with his nose like he understood everything I was saying. My mommy and daddy love to dance. They love old music from a long time ago. Music from the 1950s. Swing music with trumpets and big band sounds. They dance in our kitchen almost every night and I always dance with them. One day I was dancing outside near Honey's pen and I noticed he was moving his head up and down to the music. Then he started stepping his front hooves in a pattern. Left then right then left then right. Like he was dancing too. I could not believe it. I ran inside and told my parents and they came outside and we played the music again. And Honey danced. He really danced. My daddy said he had never seen anything like it in his whole career. A horse who could dance to rhythm. A horse who understood music. After that we practiced every day. I would put on my white dress and my white ballet shoes and we would dance together in the yard. Honey would step and turn and move right along with me. Sometimes he would spin in a circle. Sometimes he would bow his head. It was like magic. It was like we were speaking the same language but without words. Just movement and music and love. My whole family would come outside to watch us. My grandma cried the first time she saw it. She said it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. A little girl and a rescued horse dancing together like they were one spirit. I think about how sad Honey's life was before. I think about how he was hungry and cold and nobody loved him. I think about how scared he must have been. And it makes me so sad. I think about how he runs in the field and how he nuzzles my cheek and how his eyes shine when the music starts. And I know that he is safe now. I know that he is loved. And I know that he loves me back. My parents said we should come here to show people what Honey can do. Not just because he is talented, but because his story matters. Because he was hurt and broken. Because even when bad things happen something beautiful can come from it if you do not give up. Honey is not just my pet. He is my best friend. He is my dance partner. He is part of our family. When I am sad he makes me feel better. When I am happy he makes me feel even happier. Every single day I am grateful that my daddy saved him. Every single day I am grateful that he chose me to be his friend. Dancing with him is the greatest joy of my life. It is the greatest joy of my whole family's life. In our hearts and in our souls. Today I want to dance with Honey for you. We are going to dance to a song from the 1950s. A song about love and happiness and never giving up. This song is for every animal that has ever been hurt. This song is for everyone who has ever felt alone. This song is for my daddy who saved Honey's life. And this song is for Honey himself. My beautiful brave Honey who survived and who learned to dance and who taught me that the best friendships can come from the most unexpected places. Thank you for listening to our story. Now I would like to show you what we can do together.