>>> and my husband puts the wormer in, no problem, then without thinking clamps his hands around his nose like he had just done the donkey. Tivar just went berserk! My gosh you cant tell me someone didnt do something HORRIBLE to that horse with a noseband, chain, something. he showed the whites of his eyes and reared and my husband immediately let go and when he did Teev was immediately contrite. he actually dropped his head low, licked and chewed and acted like he was so SORRY. We felt terrible about it! It brought tears to my eyes really. My husband just hugged on him a long time saying "thats ok Teev, I forgot..." and he just stood there hanging his head.
That Donny is a pretty darned ok fellow isn't he, Janice? (You can tell him I said that - or not, if you prefer.) I can just hear him saying that to Tivar. And I can just see Tivar too - that's just sad. >>> But gosh, what would make an absolutely dead calm happy horse almost flip himself over just being clamped snugly around the muzzle... and then go back to being instantly a sane, sad and hangdog apologetic nice horse as soon as he is released... he had panicked! thats all it was, pure panic. that is just SO sad to me!! I know what you're talking about. We saw it here too and it IS sad, whatever it is that he remembers. >>> I have been researching an article I am writing and one study I found says that horses have large brains but most of it is used to run their feet. they don't do well when put through a maze, for instance. because they are not animals who run into burrows to catch something. Horses dont have to be good problem solvers to find and catch grass. they are however, expert at anticipating a handlers intentions. Like mind reading. they do have fabulous memory also. In tests they performed better than even donkeys or zebras. And when tested 12 months later they still remembered. This probably to remember when migrating in herds where the best grasslands were. Tivar came around a good bit while he was here, and it sounds like he continues to progress with you. I'm so proud of the three of you. But, whatever it was, I don't think he'll ever totally forget it. Karen Thomas, NC -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.4/702 - Release Date: 2/25/2007 3:16 PM
