Horses never forget human friends

Stevie Belmont · Postby **Stevie Belmont** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:34 am

Great article from MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35911274/ns/technology_and_science-science/?ocid=twitter

drewsbadboy · Postby **drewsbadboy** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:08 pm

Great article! Thanks for posting that!

ElPrado · Postby **ElPrado** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:45 pm

I owned an Appaloosa mare, and sold her. I went to the farm that bought her 2 years later, to see how she was doing. She galloped up to the fence with her leopard colt as soon as she saw me, whinnying. I swear she was showing off her son. She used to rub her head all over me when I owned her. She did it again as soon as she got to the fence. The farm owner said she never did that to him.

Mahubah · Postby **Mahubah** » Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:04 pm

I can believe horses' memories are very good. I saw Indy King several years ago at Adena Springs South -- he proved pretty friendly and after a few sniffs of my hand (on the other side of the bars, natch) stuck out his tongue between the bars to have it scratched. I obliged, and he seemed to enjoy it immensely. It was two years before I saw him again, and the instant he saw me, he came right up to the stall front to have his tongue scratched again. Coincidence? Maybe, but I sure thought he remembered something.

Stevie Belmont · Postby **Stevie Belmont** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:47 am

It is a great article, thanks

Daisy Jal Dastur · Postby **Daisy Jal Dastur** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 7:37 am

I beleive it... years ago I had a beautiful lil' foal... friendliess critter I'd ever seen... I'd seen him at 6 months and then sent him to Florida until his 2 year old year... when we got him up to Woodbine, he INSTANTLY recognized me and was my ultimate pet (didn't hurt that he was a stakes winner as well!) Unfortunately, he dies in a feak training accident at Keeneland right before starting her 5 year old campaign.... it's been almost 10 years, but I still miss my lil' guy! :cry:

kezeli · Postby **kezeli** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 8:45 am

I took care of a crimson king gelding called kings satan or the reverse satans king I'm not sure. Any way he had a very distintive marking on his face like someone had put three fingers with white paint on the side of his muzzle. I guess nobody but me liked him, he was very dirty in his stall diging it all together into a pile every night so know one spent much time with him but me. He was my favorite really. Will I went to Florida and he went to Arkansas. I saw him at Keenland in the spring meet and he was yelling at me from his stall, made me feel great!!!

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:06 am

I get teary eyed during Black Beauty (the new one) when the horse is yelling out for his old boy Joe.. and of course Joe comes to find him and he is reunited with his horse.. I'm getting overclempt!

Toccet02 · Postby **Toccet02** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:21 am

I read Black Beauty as a child and it has a line that I've never forgotten, when BB asks Justice about how he deals with the check rein:
"I bear it because I must".

Horses don't really need to deal with our sh&^ . . .
unless they are very afraid and submissive, they seem to obey out of cooperation and respect, and that's what makes them such amazing kind creatures.

for the most part . .

Cree · Postby **Cree** » Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:59 pm

I worked at the track for a couple years part-time on weekends. There was one gelding in the barn, he was my favourite. I used to take him out for 45 minutes, when the rest of them got 20-30 minutes cooling out time. We used to stroll the track grounds together looking for grass.
The trainer said he was bored all week hanging his head out of his stall waiting for me. It made his day when I was there, he'd just stare at me, "when are we going out???".
When they retired him, he was given to me. I am HIS person, and he's very possessive of me. Makes me feel special (I guess?).

Roger · Postby **Roger** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 3:28 pm

I once read that if you blow your breath into a horse's nostrils (sp), they will remember you for life, just be careful that you treat him nice when you do, so that he will associate you with good.

Tbird · Postby **Tbird** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:24 am

I had a gelding many years ago who saw his dam six or seven years after leaving her. She was off quite a distance away and he snapped alert and gave her a glad vocal greeting of regognition. The mare looked at him and gave a polite reply but didn't have the same enthusiasm.
All day, the gelding watched to see if he could see her again.
Not a human recollection but still shows that horses remember individuals.

reenci · Postby **reenci** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:22 pm

Tbird wrote:I had a gelding many years ago who saw his dam six or seven years after leaving her. She was off quite a distance away and he snapped alert and gave her a glad vocal greeting of regognition. The mare looked at him and gave a polite reply but didn't have the same enthusiasm.
All day, the gelding watched to see if he could see her again.
Not a human recollection but still shows that horses remember individuals.

does this mean all of us breeders are no better than slave masters of the ole south ? :wink: