My horse noticed I was crying today ...

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myhorsefred

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I was crying this evening in my barn whilst sorting out my horses, sobbing actually. (my cat was killed yesterday - we think she ran into a car rather than being run over).

Anyway, one of my horses definately noticed my tears as I stood by his wall. He really gently sniffed both of my cheeks, felt my tears and put his face right into mine, and we stood like this for a good few minutes in silence. It was unbelievable as he is normally quite a thug!

Just wondering, how much our horses notice about us really.
 
My friends horse did this to me in the field, Nadia couldn't care less but Flint rested his head on my shoulder for ages. When eventually I got up and walked home he just stood at the fence and watched me walk off.
 
That's really sweet, bless him.

I think they notice a lot more then we give them credit for. I also think, as crazy as it sounds that they understand some of what we say. I think being around us they become a bit like us and take on aspects of our personality, like children do with their parents.

Prob sounds a bit bizarre but I see horse/rider partnerships and they look like mirrors of each other, like they are thinking same things lol.
 
When I came out of hospital a few years ago my two walked across the field to the fence and very gently felt all over me with their nostrils for quite a long time. I was surprised and touched that they'd noticed how fragile I was.
 
How sweet.
Animals are so perceptive.
This photo was taken just after Mossburn found out that we lost the court case trying to save our animals from Foot and Mouth.

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When my first dog passed away I took it pretty hard and no doubt had the smell of grief or some sort of of sadness around me. I stuck to the daily routine despite protestations from my husband to stay at home for a day or two. Whatever it was I don't know but my gelding would not allow any other living being near me including my husband on the first day after. Giving out all the language a horse can give to say 'move away now'. He has always been a funny, sensitive creature but I like to think in a silly human kind of way that he sensed I wasn't right and wanted to protect me. He has never been as protective as that since and although he does favour me as a person, the behaviour he displayed that day has never been repeated.
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. Poor you :(

I was going through a bad time last year and my Shetland/Falabella (normally a bit of a thug!) was very sympathetic. She let me sit in her stable with my arms wrapped around her foreleg, while she gently sucked my hair and massaged the top of my head. We did this a few times and I felt so much better afterwards. She even made little clicking noises which she still does when I give her a cuddle. So sweet :)
 
Lovely post!
When I came home after nearly 6 weeks in hospital; I had fractured my spine and head of femur. My leg was pinned and plated and my mare spent some considerable time leaning down and sniffing my right leg where the plate was. That made my cry as it was her son that had put me in hospital...!

They know much more than we give them credit for and if you're feeling down, the best "cure" in the world is to Hug-a-Horse! Their instincts surpass more than we will ever know...this is why we love them so much.
 
Two years ago this Forum mounted a monumental support effort for the Spindles Farm horses. We called it Operation Esther after the tiniest equine to survive (tiny donkey foal). Convoys of lorries packed with food and bedding and rugs and cash went from all over the UK down to the 3 centres that took the rescued horses. The convoy from S Wales that me and my YO organised went to the Horses Trust. They had taken the worst of the rescued horses as they had hospital facilities. We were so privileged to be allowed to quietly stand in the huge barn where all 14 of them were in isolation. I hung my head in shame at the terrible things that human beings can do to other living creatures. The next day, I desperately needed to go and hug my rescued mare Angel. She was within a few hours of being pts when rescued because of appalling ragwort poisoning. But with the help of a fabulous team stretching all the way up to Professor Knottenbelt, I'd got her stabilised and able to lead an almost normal life. I needed to hug her and feel her health and her happiness. Now, Angel gives "attitude" a whole new meaning. She was never one for hugs and kisses and cissy girlie stuff like that. But that day, she stood quietly while I wept for all the Amersham horses and all the horrors they had endured, and for the ones who hadn't survived but had starved to death, standing on the bodies of other horses whilst, no doubt, that bloody man sat in comfort a couple of fields away enjoying a Sunday roast. Angel stood still for ages just quietly being with me and understanding if you know what I mean. It was very spiritual.

The next day, I didn't feel much better and went to get Angel for more hugs but she had decided I needed to get over it and get on with life and she barged past me from the field gate, stood on my toes, shoved me rudely with her head when I tried to cuddle her, stomped off to her stable looking for her tea and generally said in the loudest horsey way possible: DON'T MILK IT MOTHER.

Yes, horses do pick up on our emotions. They can be great healers if we take the time to get to know them. Just wanted to share this.
 
@BoxofFrogs – I saw Esther and lots of the other Spindles horses at Redwings in February, all in fine form, so well done the fundraisers, Redwings and Operation Esther :)

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Here's a piece from The Horse about a behavioural study which showed peacemaking among horses. I was reminded of it by everyone's stories here.

In the study, a group of seven domestic horses shared the same four-hectare (10-acre) pasture for two years. These horses showed reconciliatory behavior within 10 minutes after conflict about 40% of the time. But nearly a third of these reconciliations were encouraged by a "peacemaker"--a third pasturemate not involved in the conflict. Overall, "peacemaker" horses would come to provide comfort or encourage reconciliation in about 60% of the post-conflict periods, although this would not always lead to reconciliation, Cozzi said. At some stage in the study, each of the seven horses was involved in both conflict roles and peacemaker roles, he added, and this could be related to a preservation instinct.
Click to expand...
 
A friend of mine's horse was being pts due to terrible canker in his hooves. We went for a last potter around the track with my horse. My horse stuck her nose on his bottom (the worst hoof) and wouldn't leave him. It was as if she knew that he was in pain. Normally she was a grumpy old bat who didn't like any horses too near her. I also remember when another friend had had an accident and hadn't been able to come to the yard for a month. She came in a very fragile state. Normally her horse is quite bargy, looking for treats but that day he was so gentle. He stood in front of her, put his face next to hers and blew down his nostrils. Until she was better he was so careful around her. The first time she got back on he couldn't have walked any slower around the school. My horse definitely knows when I am upset and is a huge comfort. They are definitely are very aware of how we feel.
 
i have quite a bond with my cob mare jess who ive owned for ten years. she was a rescue case and hated people when i got her and it took a long time for her to trust but she is my best friend now and comforts and protects me.
She always knows when im upset and lets me cuddle her and she nuzzles me back (shes not usually a soppy mare)
During my teenage years when i was having one of those hormonal stroppy days she used to shove me hard in the stable to put me back in my place
On the day i went into labour with my daughter she stood with her head next to my belly for AGES and she has never done anything like that before
She hates kids with a passion and always has done for some reason but shes always really good around my daughter. I think she knows shes mine (same smell?)
She also protects me and sadie (my other older horse) in the field. I never have to lead jess in as she comes when i shout or if i walk over field to get big girl she walks at the side of us. If another horse comes near she goes on patrol and walks around us in circles and chases any other horse away until we are safely of the field.
If i dont have to go in the field i shout her and she walks up to the gate and she stands with me and waits for sadie to catch up.

love my mare to pieces and wouldnt be without her
 
Sorry to hear about your cat :(

I think horses and animals in general are quite attuned to our emotions. My boy will be a horrid creature when I'm in a hormonal bad mood, its like he doesn't think its a genuine excuse so will try harder to evade and make me really work for a good schooling session. However, when something has really upset me he's like a different horse, soft, loving and quiet (normally he's quite bolshy and coltish) This week for example I've had a bit of family trouble and after a particularly horrid telephone call he was an absolute star to school...think he knows when I need a break :)
 
Yesterday I picked up some books in Waterstones as Christmas presents (the first chance I have had to buy anything!). One book is called “All Pets go to Heaven” by Sylvia Browne. I started looking through it last night and I have to say I am not sure my friend will get it (before I have read it anyway!). There are some humbling pieces, just in the first couple of chapters, that really give you food for thought - about our relationship with our pets.

Quote:
"Animals are just pure, uncomplicated entities of creation.........."
"Animals have no thoughts of vengence and don't carry grudges, they are just simply loyal and loving creatures."
“There’s no doubt that our animals are good TO US; but sometimes we need to be reminded about how to treat them.”

Looks like a tear jerker for those of us that have lost beloved animals! You will find this book under the ‘Spiritual’ section. :)
 
So sorry to h ear about your cat - it always feels worse when they leave us before their time. What a dear horse to comfort you so.

Serenity seems to know when I'm feeling fragile and burys her muzzle in my neck and stays there for a while huffing in my ear. She makes me feel so much better. The other two stand away as if they knkow they are not permitted to intrude. She's very much a mummys girl and I love her for it. She fills my heart every time I see her.
 
I think horses understand a lot more than we give them credit for. I came off my TB in March of this year, we were cantering along and he tripped, fell and rolled over the top of me. Luckily my friend and bf (on his bike) were with me, as I was knocked unconscious. My bf said my horse stood over me as if he was guarding me. My friend took off with her horse to get help, normally my horse would have gone mad being left on his own but he was extremely calm. Despite being told by doctors I shouldnt ride for 3mths due to broken collar bone and ribs, I got on after 1 month. My horse had a reputation for not being easy and would often get excited when feet touched grass, despite him being 19 years old, but he was as good as gold, just plodded round, even when we did ride over our normal canter spots. I still to this day reckon he knew and was looking after me, it has definately made us a stronger partnership.
 
A couple of years ago me and my OH went through 3 cycles of IVF. None of them worked. With the last one, as soon as I found it hadnt worked I went straight to the stables from work. Benson was laying down in his stable, (the only time I had ever seen him lay down). I walked into his stable and knelt by his head. He picked his head up and laid it across my knees and we sat like that for a good half hour, with me sobbing.
I knew we had a great bond, but it was like he really knew I needed him.
 
I had a nasty accident in September which meant that I didn't see my horse for more than 2 mins for about 6/7 weeks. (Broke my back.)
The first time I went to see her she got very excited and I couldn't get too close to her in case she knocked me over (I wasn't standing or walking very well then) or hurt me.
A few weeks later, my friend took me up there in the evening while she was riding. I gave her a good scratch and then my back got quite painful so I decided to just sit in her stable on one of the banks. Normally if you do this she will get very playful and want you to play with her. Instead she just left her haylage and came and stood right over me and put her nose in my lap. We stayed like that for ages and then she just gently rested her nose on my head so she could rest a hindleg.
It was as though she knew I was hurt and was being very gentle with me.
I was so happy, was really worried that by not seeing her we would lose our bond somehow.
 
I am so sorry to hear about your cat, am pretty partial to moggies and lost mine 4 years ago and havent had the heart to replace her. You will feel better soon - a kitten is usually a brilliant cure. I do agree that they are more perceptive than we ever know. I own the equine version of Phil Mitchell, he is as thuggish as hell and not cuddly, all I usually get from him is a nice whicker when I turn up, a bit of fuss and thats about it. A year or so ago I was working all hours, he wasnt getting any attention from me, nor was he being ridden (he was being cared for though by Mini TX). I did seriously think of selling him, as I wondered if he maybe needed an owner who spent more time with him. Anyway, after a hard day at work I did find time for a cuddle with him and had the oddest experience. I put my arm aroud his neck and he then wrapped his neck around me - he had never done that before. The following words came into my head 'Dont send me away, I am happy, really'. I burst into tears and stood there for ages sobbing into his hogged mane, and he just stood there for ages with me. Oddly enough I had made the decision that day to write the advert. How did he know? I do feel they know more than we ever realise and no, I didnt and wont ever sell him.
 
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