It seems Julie’s story struck a chord with a few of you. Thought you’d enjoy these:
“Hi and happy Friday from Charlotte, NC! Your story touched me deeply. 🙂 I wanted to share a little something…hope you don’t think it’s odd of me.
I have never had the privilege of owning a horse of my own. When I was a child, I volunteered my time at the horse stable down the street from my house every day! It was a home for about 30 horses. 🙂 The hard but most rewarding work was thoroughly enjoyed! I had the chance to get to know the owners of several horses and eventually they asked me if wanted to take care of them! If i did well, I could tend to them when they were not able to come into town. Well, I could not have smiled any wider!!! I learned everything I could, my brain was a sponge! They taught me how to ride as time went on too. To me this was the best! I’ve always had a great respect for horses, honestly for all animals. And I do believe that they can sense things in people. They know who to trust! As Julie said, by showing them patience and giving them love….well in doing that you get it back in abundance! And at that young age I learned that each horse is different!! Just like people! I am overjoyed even to this day at 46 years old when I get the chance to be around, ride or even see horses. I always get out if my car to look and call then over.. Sometimes they come! 🙂 I wish that I could work with horses again….it’s we’re my heart is. It is my dream to learn and do what you and Julie does with horses. It’s hard work but well worth every minute. Who knows? Maybe one day I will get the chance to work and be with horses on a regular basis! Sincerely, I love and enjoy to Pay it forward….it feels wonderful… working with horses would be doing just that each day!! 🙂 it’s not a give and take…..it’s a give and give for both horse and person. 🙂
Sincerely,
Jenn”
“For years my first horse, a cuttin’ quarter kinda gal, terrorized the neighbourhood. We frequently rode sans bridle, halter and saddle. It seemed like I would just about get everyone trained, then someone new would move in the area. Mom, or some other neighbour would get a call about a child being run away with on a horse who’d lost its bridle.
I took the horse to the Chicago area barn I was working in. The owner’s son/”trainer” lost $50 bucks in a bet about honest jumpers: I bet him the horse could jump a 5′ fence wearing only her halter. He set up two standards and a single rail at 5″. The mare was only 14.1 hands tall and could run right under the bar, so it was kind of a dirty trick. But it also showed his ignorance of a horse he’d supposedly “known” for 6 months. I told him we would to a figure 8 course of fences – with change of lead, then come down over the 5′ rail.
And then I dropped the halter off her head. Because the bet was all about honesty in the horse, after all.
Well, the horse did the smaller fences, in a figure 8, with flying lead changes, then came around to address the single rail. For a pony to jump over her own height is a pretty good deal. But to jump a rail she could run right under, or run around or completely avoid because she is wearing nothing was quite spectacular. It really infuriated the bettor – who actually refused to pay up!
His mother would sustain much the same fury when we decided to leave the barn. She turned out some 30 school horses with my horse, in an indoor arena. Every horse turned out had a halter on, except 1 single horse. Guess which one. Now I have learned where her son gets the “dirty trick” gene. She had tried to purchase my horse, and I wouldn’t sell; this was her way of encouraging me to change my mind!
I went outside, hitched up my trailer and opened its back door. Then I went back into the indoor arena, wherein were milling 30-odd horses. The owner was smirking as it was hard enough to catch up a school horse turned out in the arena on a day off. That was why they all had halters on – and mine did not! And she had no problem standing at the gate to the outside tossing dirt clumps to get them going.
As horses began to pick up swirling speed, I just stood there. As my horse cruised by, I called her name. She stopped and stood while I jumped up on her. Then she picked up a nice little canter down the arena, jumped over the gate to the outside – causing the owner to jump out of the way – and walked into the trailer, where I hopped off, closed the back door, and off we drove!
Thank you for this happy memory!
Cheryl”
Hope enjoyed those. I did. Please keep ’em coming.
Best
Al
And now onto the buck who sent this in.
“While horses may not their love back in the same way humans do, they form strong emotional bonds with people, often exhibiting behaviors resembling affection and loyalty. Horses are naturally social animals with complex emotional and social structures, typically forming strong bonds with other horses in their herd. When they develop a connection with a human, they often display similar attachment behaviors.”
“One sign of affection in horses is their body language. For instance, a horse that trusts and feels comfortable with someone may nuzzle them gently, follow them around, or rest its head on their shoulder. Horses also show signs of relaxation around those they trust, such as lowering their heads, blinking slowly, and even sighing. These are subtle but meaningful ways in which horses express that they feel safe and content with a person.”
“Scientific studies also support the idea that horses can form bonds similar to attachment and in a way love you back. Research has shown that horses are able to recognize their humans and even appear to show signs of stress when separated from those they trust. Additionally, horses have been observed to synchronize their heart rates with those of their favorite humans, suggesting a deep, calming bond.”
“Horses also learn to understand the emotional cues of humans, responding to voice tones, body language, and mood. This sensitivity often leads people to feel a mutual connection with their horses, which can be deeply rewarding and comforting thinking there horse really do love them back.”
“So, while a horse may not “love” in the same way humans do, they can definitely show signs of affection, trust, and attachment. These behaviors are clear indications of a bond that feels close to love, as far as we can understand it in animals. With proper care, kindness, and consistency, a horse can form a loyal, affectionate relationship that resembles a form of love, deeply valued by those who experience it. Horses show love differently than us, but they show that they love us back in a different way.”
Next up
Can horses form emotional bonds with humans similar to love?
Yes, horses can form deep bonds with humans, showing affection and trust through behaviors like gentle nuzzling, following, and signs of relaxation, which can feel very much like love.