What Is The 'Side Eye Horse' Meme? The Bizarre Viral Reaction Image Explained

Photos of people and animals giving the side eye have been going viral for years now, with some of the most popular examples including side eyeing Chloe and the side eye dog. Now, a photo of a side eyeing horse is going viral across social media, leaving many wondering how the photo was even achieved. Here's what you need to know.

What Is The 'Side Eye Horse' Meme?

In September 2023, Facebook user Natalie Mamo hopped onto the group "This horse was assembled INCORRECTLY" and dropped a collection of funny horse photographs. Among those images was a photograph of a horse giving the side eye taken from a specific angle with the iPhone's 0.5x zoom lens.

The photo's angle, combined with the zoom lens, distorts the horse image to give it a bizarre and hilarious look. The angles of the horse's head appear distorted, making it seem as if the horse has a massive head and a narrow nose. In May 2024, the image made its way to X / Twitter, where it continued to spread.

How Is 'Side Eye Horse' Used In Memes?

The side eye horse really started to go viral on X in June 2024 as more and more users shared it without context. This inspired users to redraw the horse and use it as a reaction image. As a reaction image, the horse can simply be posted in any comment section that might warrant a side-eye reaction.

As a redraw, the horse has been imagined in new contexts. One viral example adds a fish's body to the horse's neck, which works surprisingly well, highlighting just how distorted the photo really is. Others are simply redrawing the horse in new styles to show off her beauty and grace.

For the full history of the side eye horse, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.