Our pets are at the center of our lives. We feed them, look after them, and do everything we can to make sure they are happy. With our animals so dependent on us, we are often forced to wonder whether or not they really love us. There is one woman, however, who knows for certain. The way her horse shows her affection is absolutely adorable.
Phoenix is a three year old horse who loves his owner dearly. This Friesian just can’t get enough of his human, especially when it is just the two of them together. Phoenix constantly showers his owner with kisses, but recently he has developed a new way of displaying his love.
This sweet horse pulls his owner in for hugs! When it first happened, she was so startled she couldn’t help but laugh. She thought the gesture might have been a mistake…until it happened over and over again.
As his owner stood facing him, Phoenix reached out his long neck so that his head was on the back of her shoulders. Then, with a quick jolt, he pulled her in toward him. The surprised owner stumbled, giggling.
“Thanks, thanks for that,” she said to this total sweetheart. Seeing that this new display of affection was welcome, Phoenix tried the gesture again.
He pulled her in even closer this time, prodding her with his head until she was pressed up against his chest. Then, in the cutest way possible, he arched his neck around her. The horse’s head was halfway down his owners back. As the two locked in a warm embrace, this woman knew without a doubt that her horse loved her.
He continued to squeeze her as she laughed uncontrollably. The woman had never seen this behavior before. “What are you doing?” she asked happily as he released her from his grip.
Now it was Phoenix’s turn to feel the love. He bobbed his head up and down as his owner petted and hugged him. She repeatedly asked him what he was doing, revealing just how shocked she was to receive such a warm embrace from her pet.
This might seem like surprising behavior for a horse, but they are actually creatures who are full of love. According to Franklin Levinson, designer of the program Way of the Horse, “Horses are extremely affectionate…[In] the wild they are mutually grooming each other, scratching each other, leaning gently into each other, sharing breath with each other.” Levinson concludes that “these are all manifestations of affection.”
This heartfelt moment between Phoenix and his owner demonstrates just how much love animals have to give. Like most pets, horses adore their owners.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
