Perhaps what captivates us the most is their innate need…drive really, for relationship, contact and friendship. We stop frequently to marvel at the intimacy of their connection to one another, the reciprocal care taking, and nurturing. I…n the last number of years, our awareness has grown as we have watched the Irish sisters gleefully reunite after a three year separation. We have cleared our throats and wiped away tears as we experienced  the raw grief that accompanies the death of a treasured friend. When Brimer passed, his paddock mate and until then inseparable companion, Styles dropped to his knees and laid his cheek on his treasured friend. We watched a similar act of love, and grief when Styles left us…and left Jack, his friend, to carry a melancholy heaviness that was lifted only in the inception of a new relationship with Brinkley. Certainly, it is the daily tenderness that horses exhibit, their natural empathy…and humor that delights us. Recently, we have enjoyed a most unusual, but very precious friendship between Finbar and Mr. Rogers. Their bond was instantaneous and genuine, even in play, Finbar cautiously bucking around the outskirts of his new little BFF, careful not to jostle his smaller friend.  After a ten day separation due to Mr. Rogers gelding,  the odd couple of sorts, joyfully greeted one another, shared a pile of hay….and Finbar gently and meticulous groomed his donkey.