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Melissa Baker
Member
Username: mysi
Post Number: 238
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 8:35 am: |   |
I didn't really know a good place to post this, hopefully this was ok. I know there is not likely any studies on this, but you never know.
I was wondering if horses remember each other? My friend is sending her horse to retire with me and her horse was Moose's girlfriend since I've had him. They were separated in Dec when I moved. Will they immediately re-attach?
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Andrea Duncan
Member
Username: babychop
Post Number: 36
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 10:41 am: | |
That is such a sweet photo! Can't say for sure but I think they do. My first horse remembered me after not seeing me for several years. I came to visit him at his new stable (he had recently moved closer) and as soon as he heard my car he started nickering & talking to me (he always did that, but only for me) so I tend to say yes, they do. His new owner was astonished that he remembered not only me but my car. I did spend every single day with him while he was mine, rain or shine from the age of 3. |
Cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 1041
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 10:44 am: | |
Yes, the barn I worked with for several years always said if the adoption doesn't work return to us and sometimes they came back! One horse came back after 5 yrs and her buddy was still there, the minute she came off the trailer and knew where she was the hollern started and her friend in the back pasture answered. Now this was an older horse but the person leading her to the back could barely stay with her. The minute the 2 got together the grooming started ........ this is just one of several reunions I've seen! Beyond a doubt the memory is very long! Cindy |
Gwenyth Santagate
New Member
Username: caballus
Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2007
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 11:17 am: | |
I'm inclined to see horses as people, too! *GRIN* Think they're just pretty much like us only in different bodies. Have witnessed numerous accounts over the years (40+) of buddies being re-united after years with exuberance and joy in being together again. I've witnessed extraordinary grieving behaviors (wakes) in a herd as well as individually when one member of the herd is passing or has passed on; I know the "goodbyes" that are hollered out as a herd member leaves the farm and, on the other hand, the greetings that are whinnied upon return ... there are just too many accounts to say that horses DON'T know each other and us, as well. My mare grieved for almost 2 years after her best buddy passed away. She turned "old" overnight when he died and wouldn't eat or drink for days. They had been together for 15 years, every day. Didn't resume her 'normal' behaviors for almost 2 years .. she remained depressed for that long. My heart just broke for her. She will, sometimes, even go to "his" stall and just sniff and then stand, head hung ... if horses were to visibly shed tears I would expect to see them rolling down her cheeks at these times (as they are mine, right now as I write this). Horses form strong bonds with one another and they never forget. Their memories are 2nd only to the elephant in the mammal kingdom - we humans fall in 3rd after them. |
Terrie Douglas
Member
Username: terrido
Post Number: 50
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 11:26 am: | |
In short yes horses do remember, not only each other but most everything. LOL
I ran into a woman that purchased a gelding from the same woman I had purchased my mare from. Turned out we had purchased our horses within a couple weeks of each other. Anyway when the horses stepped our of their respective trailers and saw each other, they began calling to each other and then her gelding tugged her over so he could nuzzle my mare! That's how she and I met actually. haha
But yes they absolutely remember each other. I always say a horse never forgets (anything) but they do, luckily for us, forgive. |
Aileen
Member
Username: sunny66
Post Number: 2094
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 12:40 pm: | |
another "yes they remember" here  I board horses and some come and go... it can be years until my horse will see a past boarder, but when they see each other it is whinnies and looks and "I NEED to say HI!" lol... very very cute |
Fran C
Member
Username: canter
Post Number: 1505
Registered: 1-2000
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 12:45 pm: | |
Don't have an experienced answer, but I suspect that they do remember. Did want to say that I love the photo - very cute horse butts! |
Melissa Baker
Member
Username: mysi
Post Number: 239
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 1:08 pm: | |
Well that makes me even more excited for her to come! I can't wait to see them together again, they will both be very happy!
The butts are cute, huh? Moose's is quite large!  |
Lori
Member
Username: maggienm
Post Number: 678
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 2:30 pm: | |
I took my mare to a boarding facility to separate her from her filly, I did this when the filly was 14months old and there was no sign of weaning.
After six months I brought the mare home and within a few minutes the filly was attempting to nurse.
She knew her mom.
Also, I sold a horse that I had owned spent a great deal of time with for a number of years.
14 years after selling him I was standing in the tie up area of our local arena when a woman walked in with a horse, there was something about him that caught my eye.
Long story short it was my old horse, he was 27 at that time, the woman who owned him told me he reacted very differently to me than he normally did to strangers. He was very nosy and followed me around, to the point where he wasn't listening to his young rider and just followed me around.
It was touching but heartbreaking as well as I hadn't wanted to sell him but I was greatful to know he had gone to a nice home.
Lori |
Gail Anderson
Member
Username: gailkin
Post Number: 114
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 3:16 pm: | |
Horses absolutely remember their pals. My friend trained a filly with her three mares for a year while her owner was in the service. Then the owner moved the filly back to the midwest for a year. She was then deployed to Iraq and drove the 5 year old filly back to California to my friend's. When she pulled into the ranch, all the mares were calling and whinnying to her and she to them before she even got out of the trailer. Gail |
Julie Masner
Member
Username: juliem
Post Number: 418
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 4:21 pm: | |
In my experience, most definitely. |
Andrea Duncan
Member
Username: babychop
Post Number: 37
Registered: 5-2008
| | Posted on Friday, May 30, 2008 - 4:36 pm: | |
Oooh, I have a story similar to Gwyneth's - my mare Belle used to call for her boyfriend Beaute' when they were apart, over the years they were apart many times & they were always calling when stabled together & out of sight. When he died at 29 years of age I think her heart broke, she died 2 weeks later, she was 17.
I think the consensus is that they do remember & love their buddies... |
