Do you feel that horses have emotions and feelings or just react as their "instincts" tell them too?

Question

For instance, do you believe or have you seen a horse pout, pitch a fit like a child, die of a broken heart. If you have, I would love to hear about it. I have a filly that will climb up on the back porch and knock on the door when she wants attention. I have seen her pout as well.

Answer 1

As someone that has had many different horses in the past and is still a horse owner, I can without a doubt give you a resounding YES they have feelings and moods and very distinct personalities. They feel the lost of and react to their friends leaving or dying, they have happy days and sad days, they play games and tease, they just plain old feel grumpy sometimes, and can make their wishes know if you listen. One of my current horses is a real character. She is like having a very flighty best freind that you never know what to expect from on any given day, but is never dull. If i don't respond fast enough to what she wants , she actually stamps her foot and huffs at me like a spoiled child. They can also read YOUR feelings and emotions a respond to that. Horses give sad people hugs and kisses. They give you nudges to snap you out of a funk, help injured children with care and kindness. OH yes they Feel ! Instincts don't make them put themselves INTO danger just to protect you. Instincts would have them saving themselves/fleeing, and I have personally had my horse come back INTO danger to place itself in between me and the threat. Which just happened to be a bear. Thanks Sugar!

Answer 2

I will be honest with you... I do not have a horse, but I am sure that all animals have emotions. Everything can feel sorrow or hapiness. For example, one day I was driving down the road, and unfortunatly saw a bird get hit by a car. Suddenly about 5 or 6 birds came down and stood next to the bird, almost in a circle as if they were mouring for it. They would not move for comming cars. I think that all creatures can feel emotion...

Answer 3

I think horses do have needs, but putting feelings and emotions to them would require cognitive thinking. I would like to believe that all animals have emotions, but I know logically thinking that this can't be true due to the fact that the react on instinct rather than responsible thought processes as humans do. they have no conscience.

That being said, My Appy is a complete brat and an adorable baby all at the same time. He knows how to annoy me by being bratty and throwing fits. He knows how to get on my good side again by doing as he is told and snuggling. I think that horses learn how to react as his/her owner responds to his/her behavior.

Just to clearify....personalities is very different from emotions/feelings

Answer 4

I do not own a horse. However, as a child I lived nearby a farmer who had horses. I was drawn to them. I did chores on their farm in exchange for learning how to ride, care, bath, feed and well, just talk and pet the horses. I always felt such a connection with them. Especially one. I rode a tough old girl named "Lady" often. On some days she apparently just did not feel like going where I wanted her to, so no matter where we went, she would decide to just take off (with me hanging on) back straight to her stall. It was amazing. She would be pretty gentle though. There is something almost magical about horses.

Answer 5

I actually just had to put one of my horses to sleep about a month ago. He shared the pasture with the same gelding his whole life. Last week when I went to gather his mate from the pasture I found him dead about 3 feet from his buddy's grave. He just gave up the will to live.
I do believe that horses have emotions- how else can you describe the unique bonds that have with their owners and the heart they show when working with a young child or a person with disabilities?

Answer 6

I have watched on "Animal Planet" "Animal Cops" dealing with abandoned/abused animals including horses. Yes, they do have instinct, but along with that, they do have their own personalities. I don't have a horse, but from what you have described, and what I have seen on tv, and I've been around a few horses so far, they are awesome, beautiful creatures! I just recalled, my ex, had a horse, and that horse, she sure had her own, sweet precious personality. Animals can sense the lack of care, or the love and respect you have for them, and display it , the bad in bad ways, and the good in loving ways, and fun ways too! Enjoy! Take care.

Answer 7

Mammals are sentient beings and have emotions and can form attachments.

I don't think "die of a broken heart" is possible, more of a "something is missing/ changed" type of feeling. Depression has proven to be possible as well and, of course, joy!

Answer 8

The ears are the final indicator of the horses emotions. while they're pinned lower back against the pinnacle, they're offended, while they're pointed forward they're often alert and looking out forward. Their posture says alot to boot. while they're comfortable their decrease lip can hunch some, they are going to **** a hip and relax a lower back leg. Over all, you're suited. as quickly as you're around horses for any prolonged quantity of time, you be attentive to surprisingly lots what they're questioning by observing them.

Answer 9

I defiently agree with you. My baby is very emotional, he gets pouty i he dosen't get his way. And when I got ot see him, and I forget carrots, he gets pissey. Right now I am trying to break him, and he loves going backwards, fences and gates just mean he has to redirect his bum. When I use a dressage whip to extend my leg, he walks forward, but he stomps his feet like he's annoyed. Or when I get on, and he gets this old nag, cranky look on his face, and once we start moving he's happy as can be. It's nothing to do with saddle or way of doing things, he just must get his two sense in.

Answer 10

horses are , i believe, one of the most intelligent animals alive. they do run mainly on the flight instinct, but still. my mother ownes a grula (spelling?!!) mare..she will give you the come hither look, sniff you, love you, accept your love, then nip you on the behind and look at you like"what? oh, my! did you see that FLY ? it was HUGE!" LOL.she has been around lots of horses and i have seen amazing things happen in communication.this one gelding liked to lay it's teeth in a person's hand. not to bite, but just put them there. noone coud figure it out. he did it to mom, and gave her the saddest eyes i have ever seen. she looks at his owner and says,"his teeth hurt". i promise this is truth..he put his head down and gave the biggest sigh i have ever heard come out of a horse. yes, they feel the same range of emotion that humans do, but most of the time humans dont care to listen when they express them. its sad that the good majority of ppl categorize equine with dogs. dont get me wrong, i love dogs! lol