Friendship Training: What Other Relationship?
We all know of the various natural relationships that horses share: mare/stallion, mare/foal, bachelor herd and harem family band. Each holds varying degrees of hierarchal needs that fulfill equine culture. But when two horses bond, the need for herd rank is nonexistent. They share food and restive behavior, often play together and exhibit extreme separation anxiety when separated. Unlike the adversarial confrontations of protecting resources or space, it is a very intimate relationship they do not share with other horses in the herd. We call them horse pals or horse buddies. Equine ethologists and research scientists refer to them as affiliated pairing, nonsexual bonding, peer attachment, mutually beneficial coalitions and preferred associates.
