2023 Readers’ Choice Awards: Idea of Order Cartoon of the Year
The Idea of Order has been keeping us in stitches for years at Horse Nation with its brilliantly witty take on horse life. There were a series of hits this year — which one was your favorite?
At the end of each December, we at Horse Nation like to look back on the year that was and highlight the articles, essays and videos that most inspired readers, triggered important conversations or had everyone rolling on the floor with laughter — and then let readers decide which one is deserving of the title of the Best of the Year.
Morgane Schmidt has been keeping us in stitches for years at Horse Nation with her brilliantly witty The Idea of Order comic series. That’s why this series gets its own Readers’ Choice Awards. We hope you enjoy this look back at Morgane’s best work of the year — vote for your favorite in the poll below!
Keep it locked on Horse Nation on Wednesdays if you can’t get enough of The Idea of Order: new comics debut weekly.
Broke
Originally published on February 22, 2o23
This is for all those who know there’s a difference between “broke, broke,” and “equestrian broke.” One of them just means you perhaps have questionable judgement on what constitutes a ‘need’ vs a ‘want.’
Equestrian Priorities
Originally published on April 19, 2023
“I think perhaps we can all agree that equestrians are a special breed. We are often hardworking, dedicated, tenacious, and perhaps even a little bit irrationally stubborn (I say that with nothing but love). 🫣😅 We also tend to have a somewhat unique way of prioritizing things. For instance, my barn aisle will likely *never* look like a hurricane went through it (EVEN if one has!), but my kitchen is a different story. 🫣”
Social Skills
Originally published on June 28, 2023
This cartoon is dedicated to those of us whose social skills are highly developed… as long as we’re interacting with other equestrians.
Theater of the Absurd
Originally published on July 26, 2023
This comic is a commentary on trainers who approach their horses with a bit less foresight than others. As Morgane note’s in the original cartoon, “Adjusting a horse’s balance and lowering the neck momentarily (with still forward riding!) has a place for sure, but making him play a sadistic form of equine Twister is something else entirely (think not only ineffective, but also cruel). The fact that it continues to slip through and be rewarded (score wise) is a real shame.”
Lesson Horses
Originally published August 30, 2023
“I think we can all remember that saint of a horse who first sucked us into the horse world. Similarly, I think we also can all look fondly on the one who was a real snarkfest and taught us perhaps even more than we’d cared to know about how lucky we were that the aforementioned saintly horses exist. 😉 I personally adored the cheeky beasts, though I can’t say that I am disappointed they couldn’t tell me how much *I* was disappointing them. 😀 On a side note, we’re also REALLY lucky horses don’t have hands. 🫣😅”
Top 10 Things Equestrians Do Outside of Riding
Originally published September 13, 2023
This comic “considers the top things we equestrians spend our time doing when not in the saddle. I think I paint a fairly accurate picture…🤔🫣🤣”
Which cartoon is your favorite? Let us know!
