umaride
New User
I've seen so many unhappy horses that I sometimes wonder why any of them would 'love' us.
Do you think your horse loves you?
- Thread starter umaride
- Start date
ester
Not slacking multitasking
no.
[59668]
...
Haha no way. New one barely even tolerates me, and my wonder cob thinks I'm OK and trustworthy but that's it!
shortstuff99
Well-Known Member
Weirdly yes I do think one of mine loves me. She does that weird horse talking to me, likes to just rest with me and comes up to me to lightly groom me often. However she ignores everyone else. My others are just cupboard lovers!
NinjaPony
Well-Known Member
I think he (mostly) respects me, seeks protection from me, and generally prefers me to other humans, but not sure that’s love!! Of course, my love for him is unconditional… which is just as well given he’s a grumpy little sod!
Carrottom
Well-Known Member
only when I have a bucket of feed.
MuddyMonster
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure if they love in the same sense we do, but I do think they are capable of incredibly deep, two way relationships and connections when their physical and emotional needs are met.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
i'm fairly sure it's cupboard love 
mini_b
Well-Known Member
I think my horse trusts me and he's done with me things I was told he wouldn’t do...
He recognises my car and canters over because... FOOD!! ?
horses are unhappy when their needs are not met; however basic or special those needs are.
love is not one of them.
He recognises my car and canters over because... FOOD!! ?
horses are unhappy when their needs are not met; however basic or special those needs are.
love is not one of them.
deb_l222
Well-Known Member
Of course not - love is a human emotion. What I do need to ask is where you have been to see so many unhappy horses????
AandK
Well-Known Member
No. They put up with me as I feed them and look after them. Sometimes I like to think they enjoy my company, but that may be in relation to food
sunnyone
Well-Known Member
No, he loves our 1 year old Labrador.! Dog approaches and the horse starts grooming him, for minutes at a time. Dog bestows no reciprocal favours. Other horses ignore him.
Littlebear
Well-Known Member
I would have always said no, but now I have a gelding when i have mainly only had mares and i would say its a yes or whatever the horse version of that attachment is, always happy to see me, will chase others off to be near me, affectionate, knows i am his person etc, not to do with food either as lived out most his life and food never came into the equation, if they were fed the herd were all fed together, never separately.
I have had since birth though so maybe something to do with that?
If I didn't have this horse i would have said a definite no for every other one i have had in my life.
I have had since birth though so maybe something to do with that?
If I didn't have this horse i would have said a definite no for every other one i have had in my life.
Winters100
Well-Known Member
Love no, but I believe that they trust me and do not see me as a threat.
Flame_
Well-Known Member
I believe my horse is attached to me, but sees himself as master to two minions - me and his field companion - I think I'm second favorite minion.
Alibear
Well-Known Member
No. I do believe they appreciate the treats I tend to bring with me.
dreamcometrue
Well-Known Member
I think she feels comfortable with me and is familiar with the way I am. She loves my treats and is a bit possessive of me with other horses. It’s not love though: she loves the mares in her herd ?
meleeka
Well-Known Member
I disagree. My mare definitely loves my gelding. They are in a herd of 5 but are rarely parted through choice. She actively dislikes most others, although tolerates her field mates. She’s the only one of mine I’d say is also fond of me. She will just choose to be with me and always greets me with a whinny whether it’s tea time or not.
As above, the others like seeing me, but i’m pretty sure it’s cupboard love.
LeneHorse
Well-Known Member
No I am merely a provider of food and other services.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
I do think this is the case for most of mine.... but I'd say there's probably something a bit more similar to human type affection with Kira, she's such a funny character but mostly she likes hanging round with me, she will often have a snooze while I hold her head and stuff like that. If I'm out in the field poo picking she will come over and just hang out. She doesn't have a particularly friendly relationship with any other horses, probably her history of being kept alone previously has left her a bit wonky in the social skills department. my relationship with her feels different to all the others.i'm fairly sure it's cupboard love
my homebred is the most demonstrative of them all and comes barrelling up the field neighing when I arrive. while she loves a cuddle and follows me about when I'm doing jobs i do still reckon it's more that she knows I will provide eventually. I think Kira would have cuddles just for the sake of it.
Trouper
Well-Known Member
Love - no. After all they did not choose us.
However, trust and security certainly.
However, trust and security certainly.
OrangeAndLemon
Afraid of exorcism
I think he likes me, no I don't think he loves me.
I think he trusts me with feed and knowing which people are 'safe'. He doesn't trust me as a judge of ground conditions and would much rather use his own judgement.
We tried side saddle at the weekend and I could see from his expression that he was unsure when the saddle went on so I comforted him and he relaxed. That's enough for me.
I think he trusts me with feed and knowing which people are 'safe'. He doesn't trust me as a judge of ground conditions and would much rather use his own judgement.
We tried side saddle at the weekend and I could see from his expression that he was unsure when the saddle went on so I comforted him and he relaxed. That's enough for me.
scats
Well-Known Member
I am an important part of my horses ‘herd’, if you like. They recognise that I control food, safety etc and they trust me. Would they rescue me if a lion appeared out the bushes? Not a chance.
I did have a very close bond with Diva, more so than probably any other horse I’ve ever had. She genuinely wanted to be around me and be close to me. It was probably the closest to ‘love’ that I’ve ever felt off a horse, but I don’t believe horses feel love like we do.
I did have a very close bond with Diva, more so than probably any other horse I’ve ever had. She genuinely wanted to be around me and be close to me. It was probably the closest to ‘love’ that I’ve ever felt off a horse, but I don’t believe horses feel love like we do.
DabDab
Ah mud, splendid
Dunno - have a go at defining what love is and I'll let you know ?
There is a very deep sense of companionship between me and Arty, different to the others and to other horses I've cared for. I might be deluded and it is purely cupboard love but I'm pretty sure I'm not. Even with horses that are not her, I'm fairly certain that the relationship quite regularly runs deeper than 'this creature feeds me'.
One of the things I love most about horses is their emotional intelligence and their instinctive need/willingness to form (sometimes quite unconventional) relationships.
There is a very deep sense of companionship between me and Arty, different to the others and to other horses I've cared for. I might be deluded and it is purely cupboard love but I'm pretty sure I'm not. Even with horses that are not her, I'm fairly certain that the relationship quite regularly runs deeper than 'this creature feeds me'.
One of the things I love most about horses is their emotional intelligence and their instinctive need/willingness to form (sometimes quite unconventional) relationships.
southerncomfort
Well-Known Member
I think geldings can get quite attached to their humans. I doubt very much the 2 mares would notice if they never saw me again!
My gelding seems to think I'm interesting and fun to hang out with. He will leave other horses and humans to come and spend time with me, so their definitely a connection but I don't think horses feel love towards humans.
I think it is friendship and companionship.
My gelding seems to think I'm interesting and fun to hang out with. He will leave other horses and humans to come and spend time with me, so their definitely a connection but I don't think horses feel love towards humans.
I think it is friendship and companionship.
Hepsibah
Well-Known Member
I have had my Highland mare for almost a year and I adore her. I don't believe she loves me but considering how intolerant she is of other people, she's remarkably tolerant of my affections. I'll take that as her version of love.
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
Yes, but some do more than others. It probably sounds a bit cheesy to explain why but their actions and behaviours over the years have indicated that they do, just as cats, dogs and birds do.
I never understand why some people think horses are incapable of experiencing love. Arguably, they demonstrate a more sincere and profound love than humans.
I never understand why some people think horses are incapable of experiencing love. Arguably, they demonstrate a more sincere and profound love than humans.
Auslander
Well-Known Member
Sort of - in a horsey kind of way. He sees me mostly as a food source, and has learned to enchant me by fluttering his nostrils at me whenever he see me - but I don't care if it's cupboard love!
That said, he definitely draws comfort from me being around. If his field mate goes hacking without him, he stands at the gate and calls for him - unless I'm there, when he will come and hang out with me quite happily. If he's at the end of the field where the Berkshire Hedge Dragons live, he will stay there happily if I'm there too - but if I go back into the house, he takes off as if the hounds of hell are after him - even if he still has feed left in his bucket, and his friend next to him. He will happily graze on his own in my garden with no other horses in sight if I'm there, but he disappears off up to the other horses at high speed if I go in.
Feeder and protector - that's my role
That said, he definitely draws comfort from me being around. If his field mate goes hacking without him, he stands at the gate and calls for him - unless I'm there, when he will come and hang out with me quite happily. If he's at the end of the field where the Berkshire Hedge Dragons live, he will stay there happily if I'm there too - but if I go back into the house, he takes off as if the hounds of hell are after him - even if he still has feed left in his bucket, and his friend next to him. He will happily graze on his own in my garden with no other horses in sight if I'm there, but he disappears off up to the other horses at high speed if I go in.
Feeder and protector - that's my role
Cortez
Tough but Fair
No, horses don't "love" us in the way we understand it.
Coblover63
Well-Known Member
Not love, but there's definitely some kind of bonded relationship emanating from her.