"Horses are people too my friend,"

In a surprise move that caught reporters and pundits completely by surprise, Willard Mittens Romney today picked his wife's dressage horse to be his vice-presidential running mate.  

The dressage horse named Rafalca is in the U.K. competing in the Olympics in the dressage event.  Willard and Mrs Romney stood proudly beside Rafalca as the 15 year old German mare enjoyed an apple given to her by one of Mrs Romney's 44 footmen.

"I'm pleased to announce my selection of Rafalca to be my running mate."  Romney said.  "She's big and strong  and one fine example of a dressage horse, much better than anything they have here in disconcerting old England.  When the Olympics are over, Rafalca and I will begin a horse and buggy tour of several key battleground stakes."

Later, when asked by reporters if having a dressage horse as a vice president was a wise move for a presidential candidate, a Romney spokesperson said, "… eh, well … eh, she's no Sarah Palin … but, eh … who is?"

Romney himself seemed oblivious to the reactions his selection had made.  "Horses are people too my friend," he said to one Liverpool stall attendant when the man laughed at Romney's funny accent.

  The mare is scheduled to get new shoes over the weekend, and then be placed in a large, specially designed horse carrier before being placed on the roof of Romney's private jet for the flight back to the US.