Friends...

From Jim: Our equines live in herds whenever possible. We have several herds, composed by disposition, needs, and compatibility. The longears tend to sort themselves out without a lot of fuss. Some of our horses are a different story. We're always happy when they find a friend and bond. They become very close. If there is an accidental separation, the whinnying and mad search is on and the reunion is touching. We're careful not to ever unnecessarily separate friends. Here's three stories about friends. Stuart is a Kiger mustang. Like all of the Kigers we have, he is a gentle peaceful fellow. It took about a year to get him back to health, but we never could find a horse he would befriend. The upper herd accepted him, but there was no one special for him. Skittles, a little quarterhorse, was another loner. Sweet mare, but very much alone in the herd. These two are now inseparable. Tail to nose, swatting flies and dozing, heads down together eating, or just moving around the turnout, they are a pair. Teddy is a big thoroughbred, all of 17 hands. He spent his last working years as a school horse. He came to the sanctuary for his retirement, placed by caring owners. Rosie is another Kiger. It took a couple of years to bring her to a state of health. A lifetime of neglect and poor hoof care took some time to reverse. Her mistrust of people took awhile to overcome. She was in the backyard bunch herd, because of her special needs. They instantly became a pair. Teddy arrived and by that afternoon, he and Rosie were side by side. Frankie is a big
oldenberg. He was retired after a catastophic stifle injury. He also had cancer, which was pressing on his carotid artery and juglar vein. Moon Dancer is a sweet appalousa mare, nearly blind and in her 20's. They are best friends. When Frankie had his cancer surgery, Moon stood with her head on him for the three hours it took to remove the massive tumors. She stayed with him while he recovered from the anethesia and while he gained strength from his loss of blood. There was no way to separate them. And there still isn't. Frankie can't tolerate even a few minutes without her. She is constantly by his side. I suppose you could work on the separation anxiety issue if you wanted. Around here, it's not an issue.

Cash and Breezy Bay, Tiger Lily and Quincy, Chance and Harmony, Levi and Daisey, and so on and so on. They have wonderful and inspiring stories of their own and their friendships are a source of even more tales. Blind horses and their guides. Abused horses and their emotional support mates. Very old horses and those that share their last months being friends. Living right in the middle of several herds is a very special opportunity to come to know about these critters. They are social animals and, to really know them, you need to see them within a herd. They can be who they are and we get the wonder and joy of seeing it.