Symbols whether they are pictures, letters, words or numbers have several functions but the most important is the gut level reaction to them, emotional or visual. For me they not only affect on an emotional level but can become part of the back ground without meaning but having a visual effect, they becomes like landscape, for instance the double X behind the horse and on top of the little girl's head. You feel that it is background rather than a rating for a movie. The name under the girl gives however gives the feeling of a mug shot. I use letters , words and numbers all the time in my work and they have an appeal to me because of the emotional aspect and for their their physical appearance as well. Once in a while I want to guide the viewer in a new direction so I add a clue a word or a number.The number on the horse could be many things, 1st place, number 1 pet for the girl, number 1 desire of the girl, and so on.