horse reaction when their stablemates die

Question
hello ma'am, may i know why most of the horses get frightened when their stablemates dies either in the stable or being exercised outside? are horses that good in sensing?

Answer
Rohit,

Horses and most animals are highly sensitive creatures. If they are close to another horse, they (in my opinion) can feel much loss and sadness. I have known horses to certainly seem depressed for a long time when one of their friends is taken away or dies.


Remember they are very gregarious (friendly) animals and also herd animals. Their very survival in the wild is determined by the other horses, and if left to themselves they definitely form preferences as far as what horses they "like" the best.

Horses can sense (again, my opinion), much more than people give them credit for...and are often more aware of their surroundings than humans.

Mitzi