Comments on: Equine Emotions

By: someone

someone — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:36:41 +0000

I think its possible for animals to feel emotions like worry, anticipation, fear, etc. Getting along with our horse friends means respecting those feelings and helping the animals to cope with their challenges

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 18:40:38 +0000

Horses most definitely have emotions. Horses have ‘bad’ and ‘good’ days just as we do. My horses know when there are treats: Before a ride, after a ride and on occasion, as a snack. They never receive treats during muck-out time. Today when I was mucking out our run-in, I took a break and stood by my horse for a moment, and she reached her head out and shoved it into my arms. Every time one of my ‘babes’ does something like that, it makes me tear up. It’s sweet to know that they care, and I 100% know that they do understand. They have an emotional attachment to us, and if you ask any Olympic or Grand Prix horseback rider, I think they would agree with me on that. They didn’t get to that level treating their horse as a machine. They got there working with their horse, and having the respect for him that he deserves. My pony will still sometimes wrap his neck around my back when I hug him. They do love us. When I’m sick and can’t visit them as much, they change. They miss me when I’m gone. When I come down there when I’m better (not at feeding time) they trot up to me and embrace me once more. Horses DO have feelings. And anybody who takes the time to care would know that.

By: Maddy

Maddy — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:25:55 +0000

Is it really necessary for “horse experts” to examine the nature of horses.Obviously horses,and most animals in general feel emotions.Elephants will mourn for days over a lost herd-mate.A wild stallion has no idea how to take care of his harem if the lead mare is gone.And,if he does,the other horses will not express the utmost trust in him as they would if the lead mare was there.Do these “horse experts” even own horses,or know how to ride them?Yes,people can have their own views,but if the “experts” really did own horses,then they shouldn’t care whether the horse does or doesn’t feel emotions.Although they might not show it,a lot of horses live to hear that certain pair of foot-steps walking towards their stall,and that’s all that matters.And always remember this poem I wrote when judging any horse and/or rider,”It doesn’t matter his color,or bloodline,the only thing that really matters,is he’s beautiful to me,and he’s mine.”

By: Abigail

Abigail — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:19:58 +0000

I have to disagree with the article there is no way any of my horses don’t have the capacity to experience emotion, for example one of my friends was rounding up horses bareback (not one of her best ideas) and her horse cut to the right and sent her into a wooden post the other horses ran on by but my sweet little boy walked up and nuzzled her face and seemed genuinely concerned about her health. Now there’s no way you can tell me my horse did that out of instinct and not out of the goodness of his heart, I could tell you a million stories but any true horse lover would agree that horses have emotions.

By: Isabella

Isabella — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 10:10:29 +0000

Okay.. who the heck believes horses DO NOT have emotional lives? There is NO reason to have horse behaviorists come and check it out! ALthough i do consider myself a horse genius, there is no proof of non emotionality (a new word!). Excuse my grammar. Horses spook at things, which is an instinct, but i knew a horse that would spook at the tiniest things but if you reassured her she’d feel better. I also knew a wild mustang stallion who was crazy, but if you talked in a sweet voice he would calm down. I think this beleif is just as silly as an article in Equus that horses slow up when going downhill! They had RESEARCHERS trying to figure out the answer. C’mon. Are horses really stupid? I think not.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:52:20 +0000

Like all animals, if a horse’s owner or friend -whether human or animal- dies (for example), they very clearly exhibit an emotional response. I find the notion of animals NOT having emotions impossible. If humans have emotions, why not animals? Why are humans singled out as being the only species with emotions? It doesn’t make sense. Just because animals can’t say it plainly in English doesn’t mean they can’t feel.

By: Taylor

Taylor — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:46:54 +0000

Of course they have feelings!

By: Jennie

Jennie — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:05:43 +0000

We adopted a rescue horse when she was a little over a year. Bella was terrified of people. Three months after being rescued she finally walked up to a human, our 10-year-old granddaughter. Bella and our granddaughter have a special bond. When it was time for Jess to return to Texas, she sat in the pasture and wept. The herd ignored her, but not Bella. She walked right to Jess and kept gently nuzzling her. When the stable owner was injured by another horse, Bella stayed with her, also nuzzling her until she was able to get up. Emotions? Responding to grief and pain tell me this horse has feelings.

By: Brianna

Brianna — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:59:43 +0000

They certainly do! They show so many different emotions!

By: dddddddd

dddddddd — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:34:04 +0000

Of course horses have feelings! and so do dogs. I own both. Why is it so hard for scientists to believe what they cannot see?