DISPLAYING UNBRIDLED EMOTION; PRINCIPAL KISSES HORSE AFTER KIDS HELP BOOST PTA.

Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer

Having worked up the courage Thursday to pucker up to a brown Andalusian steed, Madera Elementary School Principal Nancy Mason didn't give Socks just one kiss - she gave him two.

``It was kind of like giving a man with a really thin beard a kiss,'' said Mason, who had vowed to kiss a horse if the school reached its goal of 450 PTA members. ``Some of the children were asking what end of the horse I was going to kiss. I had to distinguish that I was going to kiss the end with eyeballs on it.''

Mason was looking for a way to boost PTA membership at Madera, which lost students and parents when nearby Wood Ranch Elementary opened in the fall. She and PTA membership chairwoman Jocelyn Rose launched a recruiting drive with the goal of securing 450 PTA members and came up with the horse-kissing gimmick as an incentive.

The goal was reached just three weeks later, and Mason was forced to pucker up.

``It's a positive thing for our school,'' Rose said. ``The PTA board has done a good job of making people feel wanted and needed.''

Eight-year-old Paris Figueroa couldn't have enjoyed Mason's performance more.

``Some kids said `Yuck,' but I didn't mind,'' he said. ``I've seen people kiss a horse in the movies sometimes, but I've never seen it up close.''

As for the principal, she seemed to take her additional duties in stride.

``The parents really enjoyed seeing me kiss a horse,'' said Mason, who is new to Madera Elementary this year. ``They were even going to put lipstick on Socks. I'm glad they didn't, though.''

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PHOTO (Color) Madera Elementary Principal Nancy Mason leans over to plant one on a horse Thursday.

Andy Holzman/Daily News