New US postage stamp features local horse forever

The United States Postal Service recently released a series of stamps featuring different horses, one of which is owned by Nicole Vanderhyde in West Michigan. Cherry, her 23-year-old half Arabian horse, has been a beloved companion for the past 13 years. Nicole expressed her love for horses, emphasizing their unique personalities and the joy they bring into her life.

Cherry’s journey to becoming a stamp model began when his former owner had professional pictures taken of him after a horse show when he was seven years old. Nicole saved these photos on her personal phone and shared them on social media, proudly introducing her new horse to friends and family. Little did she know that three years later, she would receive a phone call informing her that Cherry had been selected to be featured on a stamp collection by the Postal Service.

Despite the initial uncertainty of whether Cherry’s image would actually make it onto a stamp, Nicole was thrilled when the Postal Service announced the upcoming release of the horse stamp series late last year. Seeing Cherry’s picture as the thumbnail for the collection on Instagram was a surreal moment for her, realizing that her beloved horse would be immortalized on an official postage stamp.

The stamp collection featuring Cherry and other horses was officially released in June, much to the excitement of Nicole and those who know Cherry personally. Nicole proudly displays an enamel pin featuring Cherry, highlighting his unique presence among the other horses in the collection. She expressed her joy in knowing that Cherry will be remembered forever through the stamp, and she appreciates the support and enthusiasm from those who have purchased the stamps.

Although Cherry has retired from horse shows, he still enjoys being the center of attention and basking in his newfound fame as a stamp model. Nicole describes the experience as „cool“ and something that her younger self would have been ecstatic about. Despite the recognition, Cherry remains a humble horse, simply enjoying the attention and love he receives from those around him.

As Cherry continues to enjoy his retirement and newfound fame, Nicole encourages others to support him by purchasing the stamps featuring his image. Cherry may be a „first-class“ gelding on the stamps, but to Nicole, he will always be her beloved horse, cherished for his personality and presence.