When Phoenix the three-year-old Friesian horse started to pull his owner close to him, she didn’t know what it meant. But after several times of him doing so and resting his head on her shoulder, she understood that he just wanted to snuggle. Now footage of their sweet “hug” is going totally viral online – and once you see it for yourself, you’ll understand why!
Even though they’re generally not lumped into the same conversation as chimpanzees, dogs and dolphins, horses are actually considered to be one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. An article in the Telegraph UK explains that horses recognize different people and have an emotional bond with their handlers. This was tested when owners’ voices were played over stable loudspeakers.
