@Beau Skunky  
I remember one of the fandoms popular ships was for 2 characters who didn’t actually appear on screen together until slice of life

@Background Pony #B549  
Frankly, you can’t even have characters hug, or even stand next to each other without shippers getting gleeful nowadays.
 
Nothing against shipping, (I even faved some pics of ships I don’t care for, just because the art looked good) just not as into it personally.

I find it very ironic this is tagged as shipping fuel when
 
A. This is seen multiple times in tales,as something of a pony “highfive” or handshake.
 
And B. This particular scene takes place in an episode where starlight is fonning over Ace.

@OneAmongOthers  
I believe the Legend of Korra.

@Background Pony #F13D  
Really, I just think that (yes, even before shipping communities) they knew what such things looked like. For the most part, tease is the operative word, but I think it’s deliberate.

@Background Pony #EACF  
I doubt cartoon writers were really that into ‘shipping cartoon horses in the ‘80s. In fact, I never really saw MLP ‘shipping fanart until the G4 fanbase started.
 
In regards to those G1 & G3 images, things like “2 characters in a bed” aren’t necessarily “romantic,” (regardless of the “shipping” tags that fans put on those images) in fact people like siblings or room-mates in Europe share beds, and such.  
I think people are kinda reading to much into those, though people usually into ‘shipping (no offense) tend to try to see romance in places where it isn’t. I think people get kinda blinded by their ‘shipper goggles sometimes. (No offense, not bashing ‘shipping, or anything.)
 
As for the the Lyra & Bonbon bit in “Rainbow Rocks,” it sure isn’t subtle that’s for sure. That’s the only one I think was an intentional ‘ship-tease, seeing how popular that pairing is in the fanbase.  
Though, personally, I kinda wish they’d keep fanon ‘ships out of the show canon. A li’l fan-service is fine, but I don’t want to go overboard.

@Background Pony #F13D
 
Well, I seriously doubt hot lesbian horsey action was actually intended. However, the writers do sometimes tease the fans, and being human too, sometimes ship the characters and will come as close to making it canon as they can get away with.
 
Does the possibility that they could be doing that exist? I don’t think it’s too farfetched.
 
A few reminders of what they did get away with:
 
>>757151  
>>381640  
>>198246  
>>281466  
>>240065  
>>334585  
>>768454

@lol Rarity is a background pony Avatar: Legend of Korra

Just for Kicks was the episode.

Subtle, they are not.

@OneAmongOthers  
Well, it’s Patch & Starlight, so it must be an episode of Tales, though I don’t remember that scene.

I’m going to be honest, in regards to the comments, (can’t tell if serious, or kidding) I doubt this was implying any kind of “lesbian” relationship. “Hearts” don’t always mean “romantic.”  
Plus, they wouldn’t of gotten away with that back then.

OMG OMG! Fanservice! Fanservice! Ah, now they are just messing with us! They know we are clopping! etc.

@Niggoslav_Krawczyk  
What it that scene off of?

>>25609
 
The cliched response. Also the perfect excuse to bring in the best pairing.

@OneAmongOthers  
Yeah, they’d never have ponies acting lesbian. [coughlyraboncough]

Repeat of >>25608 (merged)

@OneAmongOthers O ye?

Ok, now this is gay.

@JP  
Ah the 80’s and early 90’s cartoons. A time where animators were able to put stuff in kids cartoons that you would NEVER see in todays.

They don’t do this anymore. The execs would never allow it.

That reminds me of Tritebristle’s Hearths Warming pic when Fiddlesticks and Beauty Brass do that with their tails.

The prototype brohoof.  
Maybe we should call it… sistail?

@Xuncu  
Starlight: “I THOUGHT WHAT WE HAD WAS SPECIAL, PATCH!”