SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: THE 12TH PONY

With his luscious blue and green mane (featuring non-toxic kid-friendly finger paints), Wilson "The 12th Pony" is famous all throughout Seattle. Chaperoned by owner Sarah Kessler, Wilson is at nearly every tailgate and may be the most famous football-related miniature horse of all time.

How did you fall in love with your team? What is your first memory around your NFL team?

After my human rescued me, she brought me in the house to watch a Seahawks away game on the big screen! I was mesmerized and have been ever since.

Once I heard the Seahawks drafted a quarterback with the same name as me, I couldn't help but love them! I couldn't believe they would do that in honor of me! (I wonder if he was also named after the best friend/volleyball in a great movie?) The Seahawks colors are also my favorite colors, because my human (and lifelong Seahawks fan) Sarah Kessler has beautiful, bright green and blue eyes, my favorite food is bright, green grass and blue skies make me really happy!

How, when, and why did you start dressing up, collecting, or becoming more than a regular ordinary fan?

Well I've never been an ordinary fan, remember, ordinary fans have only two legs! Once I fell in love with the Seahawks, I have been blue and green, year round, ever since. (With a little assistance from children's water-based, non-toxic finger paint!)

What is your favorite NFL moment or team memory?

When one of my favorite players laid eyes on me for the first time: he gasped and enthusiastically pointed at me, then covered his mouth with his hand. It was at the Super Bowl Celebration parade. A close second is how excited our current players get when I tell them that, "Yes, it's okay. They can feed me a carrot and take a selfie with me."

What distinguishes you from other fans of your team?

I leave a memorable trail of sparkles, glitter, and happiness everywhere I go. I am only 29 inches tall, have four legs and I am considerably cuter. I know this because I've seen how good I look in selfies.

How did you develop your costume / get your nickname / develop your Superfan persona?

A few years ago, cold weather was rapidly approaching at the beginning of football season, so I asked my human for a new blanket and socks. There were a lot of choices in the equine apparel world, but I wanted something that no one else had. The colors also had to be just right to match my fantastic green and blue hair. So my human designed and tailored my custom pony costume just for me.

At the time my human rescued me, she had a herd of 11 ponies. I became her 12th pony. My birthday is on August 12th. I can eat 12 baby carrots in 12 seconds. 12 p.m. is my favorite time of the day to take a nap. (And I also love that the Seahawks adore the number 12 as much as I do!)

I never seemed to fit in well with other ponies and always felt there was something different about me. Most ponies like being with other members of the equine family constantly, but I prefer spending most of my time with humans. I started understanding my purpose in life when I became a comfort, therapy pony for children and seniors with special needs. I also do this for soldiers and their families. But I didn't realize my true calling in life until I combined my love of helping people with my love of the Seahawks. Becoming the Seahawks superfan The 12th Pony has expanded my reach beyond my wildest imagination, giving me the ability to make a positive impact in this world by touching thousands upon thousands of lives, and bringing joy and happiness to as many people as I possibly can, all while being a tiny little ambassador for (in my humble pony opinion) the very best NFL team in history.

What is your favorite keepsake or piece of memorabilia?

My custom 12th Pony blanket that has been autographed by our current and alumni players!

What is your game day ritual?

I wake up, stretch, then leap into the air and take off running as fast as my little legs will carry me. (Proper stretching and warm up on game day is very important, even for ponies!) After I finish my warm up, I eat as much hay as my belly will hold, then I continue to eat, topping myself off with vitamins and oats. Then I walk out to my pasture and find a big patch of dirt. I roll on my left, then on my right. Then I repeat, making sure to cover every inch of myself from head to hoof with dirt. (I know my human loves spending hours and hours grooming me. I wouldn't want to disappoint her by staying clean, especially not on game day!)

After I'm dirty enough, I walk over to the gate and wait for my human to bring me my first carrot of the day. After I eat my carrot, my human brushes me, gives me a massage, touches up my roots with a little finger paint, gives me a pony-pedi and sprinkles glitter all over my mane and tail. (I believe there is no such thing as too much glitter.) When I am sparkly and clean my human tells me how beautiful I am, then we both hop into my luxury-pony-vehicle and head off to CenturyLink stadium for all of the big game day events!

What is your favorite thing about game day?

I love the energy and excitement in the air on game day! Tailgating with thousands of my fellow spectacular, Seahawks fans, meeting new people, taking pictures (especially selfies), and putting a big smile on people's faces, especially the children's!

How do you prefer to watch the game?

My fantasy is to watch the game on the sidelines while eating the turf off the field, whinnying while my team is winning.

How does it feel to be known by your friends and peers as a die-hard fan?

Some days the other ponies get a little annoyed with me, since they are mostly Colts and Broncos fans.

What is the best thing about your team?

Me of course! Oh, and the fact that our Seahawks are extremely talented, inspiring, and completely awesome and amazing!

All images by Ben Colen.

See more of the Hall of Fandom here.

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