Do horses remember old friends? Do they feel emotions? We’re about to find out:
“On the 14 December 2012 I repurchased Arthur, a horse that I bred but had to sell four and a half years ago. During this period two of Arthur’s playmates from “foalhood”, William who had been with Arthur since they were foals and Harry who arrived as a foal a year later have stayed with me. We have had a few moves, and Harry and William have shared their lives with many other horses and ponies since spring 2009. Mustons Field the place in Dorset where I used to live and all my horses and ponies grew up in has long been sold, and this reunion happened far away in East Sussex in a field William and Harry had only lived in for two weeks, whilst I was studying in this area, so there was nothing familiar. Would Arthur now aged eight and a half, a thoroughbred sports horse that has spent the last four and a half years in a high class private competition yard BE eventing have any memory at all of the two hairy New Forest pony playmates he once shared his youth with? And likewise would William and Harry recognise that little thoroughbred guy who was once their best mate?”
Amazing! This is proof that animals do have feelings and have much better memories than a lot of people give them credit for. 🙂