At 02:06:28 on 06.12.09, Polkadotpolly wrote:
I let all of our hoses out to play last night, I have Gabbie in sheep yards getting more grass, the other three are just tooo fat. Anyways they all took to playing chase but what was really funny was Flash and Gabbie. They were chasing each other. Flash would chase Gabbie and then Gabbie would have her turn at chasing Flash. But Gabbie is at least four times the size of Gabbie or she could just gallop straight over the top of him !!!! But, she was waiting for him to get about halfway across the paddock before she would turn around and chase him back, she was giving Flash a head start !!! I really don't like hearing people say that horses are not smart...what I saw last night with my lot playing was very smart horse play to me...what do you think ? Wish I had my camera ready, but I didn't...:(

At 20:14:55 on 12.12.09, Em28 wrote:
Hiya Polkadotpolly, horses are very intelligent and I would agree with you that it's frustrating to hear otherwise! What a great example this is of how socially they are very well adapted to communicating. I have to say I have not seen this before, but it doesn't surprise me. Horses are capable of demonstrating many emotions, including some of the more complex ones such as jealousy and grief. It must have been wonderful to witness the game of chase! I wonder was this a demonstration of empathy on Gabbie's part? There is a strong correlation between sensitivity and empathy so perhaps it would make sense that horses can feel empathy as they are sensitive. It would be interesting to know what other people's opinions are about this behaviour?

At 09:34:59 on 15.12.09, vesophie wrote:
horses are very intelligent as whenever a horse has to be put down on our yard (alot as there all old) even thou there put down out the way and sight of the horses for roughly 2/3 days after they are silent they eat quiet,they never play fight or run round and even quiet to ride, all we can put it down to is that we never have many people coming and going and if they do there in there own paddocks not the main mare/gelding fields so they get strong herd bonds, but it is very strange and quite dep[ressing that they all seem to grieve even the youngsters!

At 14:23:48 on 15.12.09, ArabiansRmad wrote:
A funny experience I have had was watching a highland mare x arab with a highland gelding, We were waiting for a ride to come back in and were totally captivated by the antics in the yard, A beautiful mare totally flirting with a five year old called Toby. She knew she was alluring she had been walking backwards and forwards in front of toby, pawing at the ground, as if sticking a sexy leg out for the boys, arching her neck into her chest, attaining eye contact with Toby then flicking her highland mane and squealing while turning away, It wasn't the usual high pitched mare squeal you hear when telling you to back off, it was a "oh you can come near me but not too close" almost a pathetic come on big boy taunt ! All of this time which was around 20 minutes we had been so engrossed in what she was doing we failed to look at Toby ,well when we did he was just stood staring at her with a what the hell can I do look on his face, and his manhood getting a bit of fresh air! Hehehehe I think this is like men when they just don't know what to do with a sexy lady! Or should I say CAN'T if you get my drift, POOR TOBY :)

At 19:31:05 on 09.01.10, lydia6dg wrote:
re:- Vesophie. If horses are put to sleep and the other horses can see it and smell the horse afterwards it helps with the grieving process, there are a little like elephants and they need to see their dead friends

At 21:20:46 on 09.01.10, NMH wrote:
My vet told me that,too, lydia6dg, when I had to have my lovely 10 year old put down the vet said he'd rather do it where his field companion could see & then he'd understand & it'd be less problem.