mollymurphy
Well-Known Member
Hi there, just wondering if you could help settle an argument!
I put Murph on working livery at an agricultural college whilst i was in my first year of uni (so, 3 years ago). I'm studying animal behaviour, and one of the modules was 'equine behaviour and welfare'. Our lecturer wanted us to go onto the yard where Murph was stabled and put a life-sized plastic horse (one of the ones tack shops use as models for rugs and headcollars) in a menage with a real horse. I asked if we could use Murph and she said yes.
So we put him in. The second he saw it, he screamed and ran over to in, nickering. He was running in circles round it, pawing at the floor and talking to it. But obviously, it ignored him! Murph wasn't happy about this, so in the end, turned around, squealed and double-barrelled it! The plastic horse fell over, with a massive split down its stomach and a few bits chipped off! Murph spooked when it fell, then carried on running round it and shouting. Our lecturer was NOT happy, whereas i was nearly weeing myself laughing! Apparently they cost around £2000!!! We went in, picked the 'dead' horse up and carried it out, with Murph running after us and nickering!
Now then, this horse was black. Murph wasn't a fan of other horses, but the love of his life was our black mare, Molly. Do you reckon he thought it was her?
My mum is always saying that up until that happened, she'd thought he was really intelligent, but when he did that, she decided he was thick! She expected him to see it, realise it wasn't real and ignore it, so for him to think it WAS real made him stupid! I think he was intelligent the way he went about trying to initiate a response from it! WHat do you think?
The cracked horse still stands in the entrance to Myerscough International Arena, with a rug to cover its 'injuries'! Students are no longer allowed to put fake horses in with real ones!!!
Reminds me of him every time I see it.
It will be one year tomorrow since he died.
Lou. x
I put Murph on working livery at an agricultural college whilst i was in my first year of uni (so, 3 years ago). I'm studying animal behaviour, and one of the modules was 'equine behaviour and welfare'. Our lecturer wanted us to go onto the yard where Murph was stabled and put a life-sized plastic horse (one of the ones tack shops use as models for rugs and headcollars) in a menage with a real horse. I asked if we could use Murph and she said yes.
So we put him in. The second he saw it, he screamed and ran over to in, nickering. He was running in circles round it, pawing at the floor and talking to it. But obviously, it ignored him! Murph wasn't happy about this, so in the end, turned around, squealed and double-barrelled it! The plastic horse fell over, with a massive split down its stomach and a few bits chipped off! Murph spooked when it fell, then carried on running round it and shouting. Our lecturer was NOT happy, whereas i was nearly weeing myself laughing! Apparently they cost around £2000!!! We went in, picked the 'dead' horse up and carried it out, with Murph running after us and nickering!
Now then, this horse was black. Murph wasn't a fan of other horses, but the love of his life was our black mare, Molly. Do you reckon he thought it was her?
My mum is always saying that up until that happened, she'd thought he was really intelligent, but when he did that, she decided he was thick! She expected him to see it, realise it wasn't real and ignore it, so for him to think it WAS real made him stupid! I think he was intelligent the way he went about trying to initiate a response from it! WHat do you think?
The cracked horse still stands in the entrance to Myerscough International Arena, with a rug to cover its 'injuries'! Students are no longer allowed to put fake horses in with real ones!!!
Lou. x
