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Discussion on Horse memory
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 12:29 am:
Hello Everyone! I have a question, how long is a horses memory? What I mean is say you haven't seen your horse for a while, does he still remember you? The reason I ask is that someone took our gelding and we didn't find him for about 2 months. Do you think he remembers us? We've owned him 2 years. My mare was recently re-aquainted with her 8 month old filly and they didn't seem to recognize one another..
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 12:42 am:
I suppose that, just as in people, some horses remember some things better than other horses do, and some horses remember longer than do others . . . I'm sure you'll get many stories on this topic.
I have a personal story about my first mare that I could share that proved to me that she not only remembered me but was actually happy to see me, but would rather share this:
(which I may have shared in another thread)
At one of the symposiums, John Lyons "trained" a young gelding. Two years later, when he came back to that area to do another symposium, the owners of the gelding contacted John and asked him if he'd like to use their gelding again because he'd been out to pasture for the past two years . . . no one had touched him . . . and maybe John would be interested in finding out how much the gelding remembered.
John accepted the gelding for the symposium, and within 10 minutes of working him, the gelding was back to the point at which John had left him in his training two years before.
I expect that horses remember best the people, places and animals that bring them the most security, and the people, places, and animals that bring them the most trauma.
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Member:
Juliem
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 12:51 am:
I think horses rarely forget anything! They remember where a frightening incident happened, when they got away with something during training, (obviously at that point they were doing the training), the circumstances surrounding a painful event, etc. I had one of my geldings pastured with two others for a summer. A few years later I ran into one of them (not the one he was friendliest with) on a trail ride. Even from a distance it was clear to everyone in both riding parties that those two horses recognized each other. I don't think however they are like dogs in regard to people--happy to see someone because they "love" them. They're happy to see whoever represents a pleasant (especially food) experience, and will "join up" with you if you speak horse ala the "horse whisper"--natural horsemanship is I think the generic term. I know we feel a bond with some horses, but I can't really say if that's a mutual thing. I think we have a tendency to "bond" with animals that somehow click with us, but hard to say they feel the same. I know many of you have had experiences that would dispute this. I always love to hear those stories! Julie
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 12:58 am:
Thanks you guys! More stories please!
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 1:09 am:
It's also my opinion that horses have a very long memory. Not only regarding training, but people, places, places where there are (were one time only) scarey things, other horses,etc. I think that just as intelligence levels vary in horses, so does recall. I think that some horses, like some people, esp. children and the elderly, have better long term memory than short term; but I think once they've "got it" they've got it for life. They may get a bit rusty, and their muscles might need building up before they can do something right, in the matter of training, but I don't think they actually forget it once they learn it. Some pro trainers here may differ on that.
I know horses remember people, at least people that cared for them, trained them, etc. Horses I've sold and not seen for several years will turn and come to me, nicker and sniff my hair, blow on me, etc. The owners have told me they don't do this to others.
In the case of mares and daughters, in my experience, they seem to remember each other, but don't always get along with each other (gee...does that sound familiar?)
And, I'm one of those that disagree with Julie...at least as far as my Arabs go, and I've many instances that prove my point, at least to me. They do happily great anyone that might bring them food, but they react differently to me, to my husband, to visitors, etc.
If you have access to the November 2006 issue of Reader's Digest, it has a very interesting article on this subject.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 1:21 am:
Because my husband isn't home and I'm still at the computer I'll give a couple of examples.
Years ago when I had my first Arabian, Kellee, he was kept in a large area with two other horses not mine. I was cleaning the pen when one of the other horses, a nasty tempered mare, suddenly came charging at me, ears back, teeth bared. I quickly raised my manure picker, and before I could even get it all the way up, Kellee saw what was happening and ran between me and the mare and chased her away from me.
I was taking this same horse, when he was a 4 yr old, from CA to TX with my brother and cousin keeping me company. I was 21 or so, and the oldest. We had a flat on the trailer somewhere in the middle of nowhere AZ. Limped into the local fair grounds and unloaded Kellee thinking to let him exercise in the arena while my brother took the tire into town to get it fixed. My younger cousin stayed with me.
Well, a very drunk "cowboy" approached Judy and I and wanted to breed his mare to my colt. No way, was my reply, and walked off. He followed and started making a few remarks to my cousins and I. Frightened, we jumped into the arena with Kellee. Cowboy followed. I yelled at him to leave us alone, and the minute I raised my voice, Kellee took off after the guy and ripped off a piece of his jeans as he left the arena at top speed. Judy and I stayed in the arena with my horse until my brother returned with the truck and repaired tire.
If this horse felt no affection, why would he defend? I had Kellee for 30 yrs., btw, and he was the one true love of my life! (sorry guys, and Lonnie's in a different catagory.)
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Member:
Zarr
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 1:51 am:
They must have memories or how could the wild ones find their way??? Have had much the same experiences as Sara and the rest. horses who have choosen me over herd or food, horses that have put themselves at risk for my safety when they could have walked away. The stable where I helped for several years still has horses who meet and greet me when I stop by, just me no cookies. The mule who had a badly wounded face that I took care of will come over and rest her face in my hands to this day!! So yes absolutly and very long ones at that! Cindy
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Member:
Scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 7:13 am:
I know they have memories, I use to rent a farm about a mile from where we live now. Hank was born and raised there for the first 5 yrs. of his life.
Strange things went on at that place, and I never felt good about my horses being there (that's why we bought this place) We have lived here 4 yrs., and to this day when I ride him towards that farm he starts pitching a fit and whinnying. The first couple times I went down that road he refused to go within a 100 ft of the gate. Once off that road he settles down and behaves. I found it a very strange reaction, and won't ride by there anymore.
He actually gets a look of fear in his eyes.
My other horses don't mind going there, but Hank is one of those intelligent, highly opinionated animals, and very smart.... he also protected me from a very mad cow the other day.
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 9:50 am:
I too can attest to the memory of horses.
Just a while ago I was showing off my 'baby' to a friend. I had brought the weanling into a stall, my friend came in after me, for whatever reason she didn't latch the gate, the filly was nervous with a strange person present so went to the gate. I didn't have a halter on her, she bumped the gate with her chest, of course it opened and she was free.
That was in Nov, she is in the stall 3-4 xs a week, she never fails to test the gate now.
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 10:05 am:
I'll add to the thought that horses have long memories....(and my vet also told me that he thought they do).
I've had my 2 mares over 10 years now. In between owning my own farms, they stayed 3 seperate times at my friends house. After that very first time they were there, they seemed to always remember it when they returned. It didn't seem to matter how long they had been away (one instance was well over two years between "visits"), they walked in calmly like they owned the place. They had none of the usual stress associated with new surrounds.
I also bought both mom and daughter seperately. When I bought Grandma, her daughter Lilly had been weaned from her for about 6 months and they were in seperate pastures. The previous owner assured me they had not seen each other in those 6 months. I brought Grandma home, and about a month later, brought Lilly. They ended up in the same herd when Lilly came home. Lilly was about 13 months old and scared out of her wits being in the big herd in a new place (we were boarding at the time). She was chased a few times and couldn't get near anybody. I don't remember how long it took (an hour maybe?), but Maude found her...they sniffed noses....and from that point forward they were inseperable. Maude protected Lilly from the herd and kept her company. Even after Lilly was accepted by other horses, she and Maude never strayed far from each other. Today they are still together (only seperated once for a summer and when Lilly left to wean her colt for a few months in the last 10 years). They still get along very well with a few exceptions here and there where Grandma will get it in her head to bite Lilly (don't know if they had a nonverbal disagreement or what!). Arthritic, slow Grandma still has the Boss Mare position although it's obvious if Lilly so desired, she could be Boss. I honestly think she will always give that position up to her mother, because that's the way it is!
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Member:
Maggienm
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 10:25 am:
I have another great story. When I was 12 I bought a yearling studcolt, actually I helped my Dad with the haying and traded 150 bales(at the time sq. bales went for .50)
I trained this incredible forgiving animal, I had never had a horse and most of what I did came from Western Horseman, (we had an older horse that I could ride, my dad insisted I ride bareback for about two years so if I fell off(which I did so many times, have two compressed vertabrae from that time)I wouldn't get hung up on the saddle.
Anyway, I had this boy for 17 years, I showed him in every western class you can think of, one of the best life lessons( should start a new thread for this one) I almost didn't enter one certain class because one of the entries was a very well off girl whose dad had bought her a ready-made reg black arab. She had a matching outfit complete with so much silver you needed sunglasses. I had the same saddle I did everything in, $20 hardware store bridle and jeans.
Long story short-we won.
After 17 years life happened and I had to sell my best friend.
Ten years later, I was just getting back into horses, I was in a saddleing area and in walked a woman and a horse, I must have been staring because she asked me what??
I said the horse looked familiar but after a short discussion we decided it couldn't be the same horse. Wrong area, wrong age, etc.
After a bit I asked if I could have a closer look. As I got close to his shoulder he picked up his front foot; years before I had taught him to pick up his foot for a treat.
His owner said he used to do that but of course didn't know why.
She said she could tell he knew me by his reaction to me. The final proof was finding a certain rope burn under his mane. It was wonderful to know he had a great retirement home but I went home and cried for missing him.
He even tried to follow me around in the arena.
Even after all this time I regret having to part with him.}
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Member:
Dres
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 10:56 am:
Oh yes, they have a memory.. they remember good and they remember bad better!~ I agree, once a horse has been spooked by something in one corner that corner will always be on that horses list of ''beware''..
I had a broodmare that I had separated from her colt for a solid year, different barn, I brought her back and was riding her past the yearling pasture.. she and her colt started talking to each other, the mare in that sweet low comforting knickers.. They recognized each other!~
Ok I know I am going out on a limb here BUT.. I have full brother and sister living next to each other... The gelding is my teaser for my broodmares breeding season, he does a good job.. BUT he will not tease his sister..? Nor will she show heat for him but will for other geldings?? I know ,, I know.. it just seems like he is saying.. ''THAT IS MY SISTER .. YUCK''
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 11:00 am:
I've been disappointed in the memories area. We raised an orphan colt 12 years ago. Out of my Arab mare Willow, who I still have.
The situation was that she foaled 7 days after I gave birth to my daughter! So my life was let my daughter nurse, put her back to bed, race to the barn, try to get mare to accept foal. Did that for the first day, then it was make Foal Lac, race to barn, feed colt, hurry back in to check on new born daughter. Thank God for nursery moniters at least!
I sold him at 3 to a rather inexperienced young lady and visited him many times the next few years helping her out with training him. She sold him and he is still with that owner.
I do see our "Little Guy" at horse shows from time to time. I've approached him from over the stall door and he's just like his momma. Stands back, stretching his head out as far as he can without moving his feet and checks me out. But no sign that I am anything special in his memory bank. Of course not sure I am anything special to Willow either if she acts the same way after 15 years!
I would like to run into a TWH named Buckshot though. I was the first person he got scent of before he even smelled his momma. Only birth I witnessed up close, and he did think I was special to him!
Like Lori, I regret selling him, but too many horses, and a new baby at the time.
BTW, he's a grey TW, and would be 13 now. Last I heard he was in Southern WI.
I do believe that horses in general do remember much more than we give them credit for. And that they learn from watching what we do with the rest of the herd.
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Member:
Jojo15
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 11:36 am:
Angie, i think some horses present their personality differently, just like people. He might have been more stoic in his. Mine is. She never shows me the slightest, outward signs, but small minute givings that i'm her mother...She nickers like all get out in the mornings though when she sees me. And she also is very vocal and comes running when she hears my voice, but that is food induced. I'd love to think that she is "happy" to see me in the mornings. but i know its food related...
Short term vs longterm memory... I have oodles of examples my mare has both. I'm sure there are great studies on this. yes? DR. O? any references to read on this. Interesting subject...
My mare and i went trail riding a few years back. I'd never been there before. She had. When i had asked the old owner he said he used to take her up to this particular park as a baby to train. That was a 15 year time frame from when i was there and when He was there. Luckily, she didn't forget the trails too, otherwise, we'd been lost. And you know trails change or grow over the years, they don't stay exactly the same. So i can't explain but she knew exactly which loops took us back to the trailer... and what loops she would balk at, and then realize its a water loop, or a rocky one.
She also ignored the old owner. He used to say she doesn't remember me. NO i think she remembered him just fine, just didn't like him much.
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Member:
Twhgait
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 12:06 pm:
Angie, I'll keep my ears/eyes open for a grey TWH named Buckshot this summer at the shows! Your Willow sounds just like my Maude! I'd also LOVE to think she just adores me to pieces and that's why she nickers at me soooo sweetly....but alas, it's only when she sees treats/food on the horizon! With horses like them, I guess we take what we can get..
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 12:29 pm:
My horse memory story:
When I was 13 and lived in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, I got a lovely, 6-year old bay mare named Jubilee. She was a very kind, but high-strung mare who had serious issues with men . . . Namely, she "freaked out" whenever she saw a farrier apron, smelled a vet, was approached by a man . . . (thus, I learned to trim horses when I was a teen). I spent summer days with her at an old dairy farm, and saw her as often as possible in the winter. When I was 15, we moved to Montgomery, Alabama, and brought the horses with us. We kept them stalled on the Air Force base there, and I saw her almost daily as there was no turn out unless I took her out to ride her. When I graduated from high school, my parents divorced. My mom and the four kids moved to be near my grandparents in Massachusetts, and my dad took the horses to Bangor, Maine. I started college. In April of the following year, I went to visit my dad for a weekend. I hadn't seen my horse for almost a year. I was nervous about seeing her because I didn't know if she'd remember me. On Saturday morning, I went out to the farm where Dad boarded the horses. I saw Jubilee in the pasture and tentively called her, "Hey, Jube!" Immediately, she DrOpped to the ground . . . laying with her front legs tucked beneath her . . . and my heart lurched in panic as I thought she was sick. Jubilee never, in all the previous years, would EVER be caught down on the ground. I used to tip-toe along the front of the shed row of stalls in Alabama, early in the morning when it was cooler, to see if I could catch her in a supine position, but she would always pop up in alarm when she heard the other horses signal that someone was coming. I had never seen her laying down in the years I had owned her. I was sure that she was going to pop up and run if I approached with the halter . . . or that she was going to keel over and die in front of me . . . but she let me walk up to her and put her halter on and she stayed on the ground in the process . . . then got up . . . and acted fine . . . and I groomed her and rode her lightly . . . and she showed no signs of illness or soreness all that day. On Sunday morning, my last day of visiting, my dad DrOve me to the farm in the morning, and when I called Juby, she DrOpped to the ground again . . . not rolling, not looking sick . . . just waiting. I cried.
A few years later, when I was married and living in Vermont, I was able to bring Jubilee and my sister's horse to Vermont to live with me. I had Jubilee for 23 years, and I put her down at the age of 29 along with her buddy mare, and buried her in East Montpelier, Vermont. Never, since that time in Maine, did she ever lay down and allow me to approach her. In Vermont, I kept her on my own property, so I often saw her lay down in the pasture, but she never let me get up close to her as she had the weekend in Maine.
Yes, horses remember . . . and sometimes they show "happiness" at seeing a human friend.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 12:55 pm:
Funny, but my memory stories are similar to some of yours, but the only ones that have demonstrated clearly remembering their people have been mares.
Seems like the geldings I have known have not been particularly demonstrative, and since I haven't dealt with any stallions...
Any one else notice the pattern? Perhaps it's that motherly instinct that affects so much of us animals.
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Member:
Lynnea
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 2:39 pm:
For me, horses have incredible memories...some things they never forget. Horses I have had that experienced unhappy training methods, I have had to totally eliminate any reminders or connections to those experiences to make them happy horses again.
When we moved to our house we live in now , my daughter took her horse, Molly, out for a ride.
Walking toward the trail they saw a horse and rider coming toward them at some distance. All of a sudden Molly, who was just ambling along, started to nicker and jog, while my daughter wondered what was going on. Molly was the perfect trail horse....nothing bothered her, and she was very well mannered. But, she was acting silly and excited. As the rider and horse got closer, my daughter realized the horse looked familiar. Sure enough,it was Molly's old friend from where we used to ride. He too started talking to her, just like two old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time. It was amazing. They had last seen each other about 8 years before this meeting.
Also, one of the horses we raised and at the age of 12, allowed one of my daughters friends to have for her kids to enjoy (did not sell) ..came back to us after 8 years and could not stop talking when he saw us...when we picked him up after they decided he didn't fit in their program any longer.
I could go on with many stories on the memory of horses. But , my horses are now remembering they need lunch!!!
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 3:01 pm:
Kellee, the horse I told about, was a stallion and later gelded.
I've not noticed any difference in memory between the sexes, nor in affection, except for the fact that some stallions are a little less demonstrative then the mares. However, our two stallions do come up to me and put their heads against my chest when I go into their stalls. I guess objectively one could say they do it because they like to get rubs, but they don't do it to other people.
When I'm sick or injured our stallions seem more sensitive to the fact than the mares. They both are very concilitory in their manner. They sniff me all over to try and figure out what is wrong and put their heads over my shoulder like a "hug." However, the gray will try and take advantage of the fact I might not be at my best by trying to get away with something he shouldn't do; the black is less like that.
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Member:
Zarr
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 7, 2007 - 8:46 pm:
When we first got Zarr he would listen for and watch any disel pickup as that is what his former owner had driven even two years later the intent responce would be there and he would watch the truck until it was completly gone it broke my heart to see him expect his human to come get him! Finally he gave up and accepted the "old grey mare" was here for him and it would be alright. We now love each other very much but it took time for his memories to fade! Cindy
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Member:
Fahren
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Posted on Monday, Jan 8, 2007 - 10:34 am:
When I was 14 I got my first OTTB gelding. His name was Secret Link. He was my best friend and we did everything together. When I got him we lived in MN. My parents a few years later decided to move to VT. Link and I were together until I was on my own and working too much to ride him. He was leased out to a few different girls. But I can say for certain he always remembered me. I could go and get on him after not seeing him for months to even a year and he would be so happy to have me once again on his back. He behaved differently then he did with others. When he was once in a bad situation and I found out he was not eating enough and getting thin, my friend went to pick him up. She had known link for many years. When she got to my house with the trailer she said she was scared for me to see him. He was not himself. He was depressed and very dull. Well she unloaded him. He saw me and new he was home and was instantly bright. My friend noticed the difference in him right away and commented on it. I should have learned my lesson that Link was happier at home even if I did not have time to ride him, but I did not. When I got pregnant I decided to lease him out once more. He went to a reputable barn for a year. I saw him very little, but when I did he was happy. The girl that had been leasing him was moving. I interviewed new girls for him as I did not have much time with my 9 month old baby. I rode him for the first time in 19 months before a girl l was going to try him. He was so happy, the girl that had been leasing him for the past year was amazed, he did not look like the same horse she rode everyday. The new girl decided to lease him for the six months I was offering, then he was too come home. Link HATES loading, so I went to load him. It was his 18th birthday. After some coaxing he got on and was on his way to his new stable. It was also a nice barn but much further from my house (1 hr 15 mn). I went home with my family. At around 9 pm I got the worst call from his new barn saying he was down and they thought he was colicking. I said I would be surprised as I had had him for 12 years, he always had to eat a TON of grain and he had never colicked, but to call the vet and then call me. When the vet got their she called me and told me it was the worst case of colic she had ever seen (she still says that to this day). She suggested that we put him down. I said I would have to see him first and packed my family in the car and headed out to his new barn. On the long drive I got lots of calls from the vet saying he was thrashing and uncomfortable. Every minute to them felt like an hour. I could not let him go without saying goodbye. I talked to my mom on the phone and she offered to pay for surgery, Link had a special place in her heart as well. I told the vet and asked them to get a trailer ready. She sounded skeptical. I saw why when I got to the barn. They had him outside and he was lying flat out on the ground. He looked dead. I went over and they apologized, said he was so unmanageable they had to drug him. No one was walking him. (Link was 17hh, and although a puppy dog with me, when pushed or unhappy he was a TON of horse and could act rather unmanageable. He did not know any of these people). I went over and knelt by his head and talked to him. The vet tried to pull me away saying he was still violently thrashing even though he was so doped. She asked if now she could put him down. I called my Mom and told her I did not think surgery was going to be an option as he was down and really drugged and they did not think he could stand on his own. They also had not yet hooked up their trailer. She told me I would never forgive myself if I did not try. I went back out to the surreal setting. Red dirt drive and florescent light. Thick humidity about to break on a unseasonably warm early may night during the last few minutes of my beloved horse's birthday. I told them to hook up the trailer. They looked at me like I was crazy and voiced their opinions that we were not going to be able to get him up. I did not notice as they hocked up the same two-horse he had arrived in earlier that day instead of an open stock. I also did not notice that though they took out the divider they did not take out the front bar. Well when the trailer was hooked up they sad lets try and get him up again (apparently they had tried earlier and been unsuccessful) I told them to let me try. I went over a knelt by Links head and had a chat with him. I told him I loved him and wanted him to come home and I would never let him out of my site again. I told him to save him I needed him to get up and get on the trailer and I was taking him away from here. I stood up, and so did he. I walked him right onto the trailer. It is the only time in his life he got on a trailer without any coaxing. He had never got on in less then 20 minutes to a 1/2 hour on a good day. Everyone was amazed and we started the caravan to the surgery center another 45 minutes away. The rain started and it was poring. When we got there the vet surgeon ran out of his building to the trailer. He opened the side door. Then he ran over to my car shaking his head. He said on the trip Link had fallen and wrapped his front legs around the bar. He could not stand with all the tranq in him. He said there was no way to get him out safely that he was too big and that I should put him down. I went over to the trailer and held Link while the vet put him down. It took a long time because of the tranq. I buried him at home in my front pasture. I know this horse remembered me always, and I will always remember him. 
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Monday, Jan 8, 2007 - 11:36 am:
Meeemories of the tiiimes we spend before, Oh shucks that is not the memory we are talking about is it? 
It is said that Elephants have a great memory span but imo horses are right there with them!
Some years ago I had a hysterectomy and did not see my horses for six months and guess what? Yes they remembered me.
Too easy ha, When I left England I was very lucky in finding good homes for my five horses and had the great opportunity to see them three years later, and not flattering my self, but I do believe they recognised me.
Ok me me me, well save the best for last! As some of you may know I seem to be Cozumel’s protection league for horses and last year I acquired three blind horses. After they arrived I noticed that Merlin and William had the same branding and after a few months when they finally met it brought tears to my eyes the way they seemed to have recognised each other, William stopped on his tracks when he spotted Merlin and approached him very gently and then they began to rub each others faces and (Oh my gosh I am crying again) so gently as if William sensed that now Merlin is blind.
Anyway I do believe they have a very good memory, but they are individuals and like us show emotions in different ways. For example when Lemba Chak was born his mum Chaka called him if he wandered more than three feet away from her, three years later when Champal was born he could go walkabout to the other end of the six hectare field without her seeming to mind at all.
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Monday, Jan 8, 2007 - 12:28 pm:
Oh Zoe, what a sad tale about your beautiful horse. You tried everything, didn't you. So sorry.
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Member:
Lynnea
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Posted on Monday, Jan 8, 2007 - 1:35 pm:
Zoe, your story is so touching. And it verifys my strongest belief that horses bond to a certain person and never will forget them. With the circumstances that had you part with Link, and you keeping in touch with him, allowed you to be with him when he needed you most, and the comfort you gave him at the ending of his life was truly a gift to him for what he meant to you, and what you always meant to him.
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Monday, Jan 8, 2007 - 2:19 pm:
Wow, thanks to all of you for your replies, I enjoyed them so much. Your story of Link was a tear jerker I'm so sorry for your loss. Any more stories?
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Member:
Shanson
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Posted on Monday, Jan 8, 2007 - 4:13 pm:
I bought a 7-year-old gelding from a friend of mine who had raised him from a weanling. He was very sweet, but never really warmed to me. Long story short...after a year, my friend took him back. She lived out of state, so we met midway at a mutual friend's house to do the exchange. I got there first and turned him out in a pasture. My friend arrived later, walked up to the pasture gate, and that gelding snapped to attention, galloped to the gate, rested his head on her shoulder, and gave a big sigh. I knew then that he had missed her the entire year I had him.
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Member:
Boomer
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Posted on Monday, Jan 8, 2007 - 7:11 pm:
That's an great story, Sharon!
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Member:
Cmora
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 13, 2007 - 4:46 pm:
I bought a 2 year old QH gelding that I gavee to a friend when he began to have bad hock problems. He and I had a GREAT time together for about 6 years. When I would return from vacation I would go to his boarding facility and stand at the gate and call his name and he'd coming running! I could never wait to get out of the airport, drive home, dump my husband at the house and get to the barn!
My friend had to let Tryg go too but I was VERY lucky to find him an AWESOME retirement home in a beautiful part of Texas.
I have been there to visit him once and wondered if he remembered me.....nothing he did really screamed to me that he was excited to see me and I was a bit dissappointed. But, very happy to see he appeared fat and happy with his herd. He has the cutest little pony he hangs with.
But, after reading these stories I am dying to take the 3.5 hour trip over just to say hi. He has a cancer in him nose that has been operated on several times so it's not like he'll be around forever. I should go say hello......
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