My Thoroughbred has always adored cats. It is strange to see him follow a cat with his eyes, or stand happily while a cat rubs around his legs. One time a young barn cat jumped from a stall divider onto his back, when he was standing in cross ties. This normally sensitive horse just steadied himself and sighed.
The above barn cat named 'Orangey' loves to nuzzle his face on horse's noses and Montana is never happier than when this is going on. What mysterious comfort are they sharing, these two animals from such different species, prey and predator, 1000 pounds versus 5?
This picture is from yesterday - it had rained buckets all day and finally cleared off mid-afternoon.
8 comments:
This is the polar opposite of how my dressage teacher's mare reacts to cats: A snuggling machine when it comes to people, she despises cats and will go into a ear-pinning, mouth-wrinkling, hoof-stamping snit when she sees any of them near her stall. What goes on inside those big heads must be every bit as strange as what goes on in ours.
That's adorable. My guy used to be afraid of the cats that hung around the riding arena in the corners or on the tops of walls. I was even dumped once because of a cat in the shadows that moved. Go figure, some horses love them and some don't. Oh and we had a horse once who used to occasionally have birds land on his butt outside and he would just mosey along like that.
3PJ: I agree - how strange must be the mental terrain, everywhere. And my Montana does not care for dogs (finds them intimidating) but Johnny loves them and always wants to chase their beehinds all over the planet.
GreyHorse: Birds on horse butts: I've seen this! It is so cute. And cats in dark corners, I'm thinking Montana might take issue, just because.
what a CUTE photo! I remember coming in the barn where I used to keep my horse and there was a cat hanging out on my horse's back!
My trainers Oldenburg has a cat for a mascot. He and this cat (and only this one cat) adore each other. The cat can often be found napping on her horses back and butt. The cat also stands guard in front of this horses stall. Before my trainer had her own barn she boarded at the place where this cat lived. Her horse and the cat were such good friends she asked if she could take the cat with her when she moved. Luckily they said yes. They didn't want to break up such a cute pair. I think some animals just speak to each other. Very cute picture by the way!
I co-exist peacefully with the 4 legged rat catcher that lives in my stable. She is an old lady with a severely damaged tail. She just wandered into the farm some years ago and has stayed ever since.
Aw how sweet! Our cats don't go near our horses, other than drinking out of the water tanks.
OneCowGirl: It must feel nice and warm to the cat's feet, but how steady can it be?!
OnTheBit: How cute that the two of them are inseparable! Mysterious animal connections are real.
c2b: '4-legged rat catcher' is too cute. The old cat sounds like a real character.
TrainWreck: so your kitties avoid the ponies? I think that's what I'd do if I were a feline - too scared of getting stepped on.
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