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The Year of the ‘Crying Horse’
A gentle reminder that animals feel too
“We are very good at feeling sorry for a toy that looks like us, but we still have a long way to go in understanding the silent, non-human language of the real animals we claim to love. “
In many cultures, the Year of the Horse is a symbol of strength, freedom, endurance and spirit. Horses are admired for their power and grace, but also for their loyalty and sensitivity. Anyone who has spent time around horses knows they are not just strong animals—they are deeply emotional, social and intuitive beings. The Year of the Horse is highly anticipated amongst Asian nations because it is considered a powerful, high-energy and lucky year.
How a “Crying Horse” factory mistake is reflecting social reality in China
However, this image has been at odds with the recent viral news story of the ‘crying horse’ soft toy. A red plush horse, originally designed to smile as a cheerful decoration for the Lunar New Year, was accidentally produced with its mouth sewn upside down. Instead of a smile, the toy appeared to be frowning or crying.
Many people, especially young workers, said the sad-looking horse reflected their own stress and emotions, turning the toy into a symbol of modern life’s pressures. The toy quickly became a symbol of workplace fatigue. Demand for the toy surged, and sellers began producing more of the crying version because people felt emotionally connected to it.
Whilst I am amused to see that the plush toy is helping many frustrated workers to share their emotions and thoughts about the imbalance in their work life, I also hope that the ‘crying horse’ will go one step further by helping Asian nations to recognise that animals have emotions.
Demonstrating that horses – and other animals – feel emotions too
Indeed, the unexpected popularity of these toys has revealed something powerful: people instinctively respond to the emotions they see in animals—even when those emotions are stitched into a toy. Although many disgruntled workers have projected their own feelings of despair onto the sad looking soft toy, the image of a gentle horse with teary eyes has also been carrying a deeper message: animals experience emotions too. I am deeply moved to witness that the ‘crying horse’ soft toy is helping to create empathy. It invites us to pause and consider how animals might feel in situations we often overlook.
The Lunar New Year symbol of a horse is one of strength, but there is another side to the horse’s spirit: sensitivity. Horses are prey animals, naturally alert to their surroundings. They read body language, tone and energy with incredible accuracy. This emotional awareness is part of what makes them such powerful companions in therapy and healing work. The ‘crying horse’ toy has had an incredible impact in representing this softer side of the horse — the part that feels deeply, trusts carefully and responds to kindness.
How ‘anthropomorphism’ could help to build a kinder, more compassionate world
When we see a crying horse soft toy, we are witnessing a form of anthropomorphism — the practice of giving human traits, emotions or expressions to animals. Anthropomorphism is not about pretending animals are exactly like humans. Instead, it is a bridge of empathy.
The viral crying horse toy is a perfect example. A simple sewing mistake creating a human-like expression, and suddenly millions of people felt understood by a small red horse – and in turn understand that animals are sentient beings.
However, in this instance, the workers projected their exhaustion onto the toy because it was easy to do so. A toy doesn’t have complex needs; it just sits there and validates us. Yet, in reality, a horse’s facial expressions are incredibly complex. A ‘tight’ mouth on a real horse is a sign of physical pain or high stress – similar to the ‘frown’ on the toy. Yet, in real life, humans often ignore these signs and keep the horse ‘working’, much like the bosses who ignore human fatigue for workers caught in the ‘996’ culture – China’s notorious workplace custom (9am-9pm, 6 days a week) which was outlawed in 2021 – however, long hours are still common.
The ‘Crying Horse’ is a brilliant mascot for human stress, but it also serves as a reminder of our selective empathy. We are very good at feeling sorry for a toy that looks like us, but we still have a long way to go in understanding the silent, non-human language of the real animals we claim to love.
This is particularly relevant for many Asian nations who often see animals as tools or entertainment – in fact the word for animal in Chinese is literally translates as ‘moving object’. Instead, this little red horse is educating millions that animals are creatures with emotions and needs. It is these feelings which connect all living things.
Caring for Life Education helps children to recognise that all living beings have needs
ACTAsia’s Caring for Life (CFL) education for children aims to help Asian children, aged between 6 and 12 years old, to develop a sense of compassion and responsibility for animals, people and the environment. Taught over six years and based on UNESCO’s Four Pillars of Education, the curriculum encompasses social welfare and citizenship, animal welfare and environmental issues. The course teaches children that all living things are interdependent and that the concept of One Health only comes from caring for all.
ACTAsia’s award-winning Caring for Life (CFL) education for children is built on the simple but powerful idea that all living beings deserve kindness and respect. For me, CFL education is not only teaching children that all animals are sentient beings but it is also developing emotional literacy in children and the next generation.
For the Year of the Horse, ACTAsia invited children from our CFL Pioneer School to share their knowledge about horses so that more children and parents could learn that horses are not ‘working machines’ and are in fact sentient beings with feelings. The film also included an information sheet so parents and children could spend time together and understand more about horses during the Lunar New Year holiday.
Whilst the viral sensation of the crying horse has touched millions worldwide, ACTAsia continues its vital work in educating the next generation about essential values such as compassion, responsibility, emotional intelligence, the awareness of interconnected life and respect for all living things.
Because behind every set of eyes — human or animal — there is a heart that feels.
If you’re inspired by our mission and wish to make a positive change, consider donating to ACTAsia. Your contribution directly fuels our efforts, ensuring that our ethical and sustainable message spreads even further.
Support our cause and ensure a kinder future for animals, people, and our planet.
Pei Su is a Chinese sociologist and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ACTAsia, an international NGO established in 2006. She is a strong advocate of education and training as the main vehicle for long term sustainability, aiming to inspire people to understand and appreciate the world we share, and to take responsibility for the protection and preservation of its inhabitants and resources.
