Hattingh Equine Rescue & Rehab Inc

01/02/2025

Brittany getting a birthday ride

01/02/2025

Happy 9th birthday to Wasabi Aka Savvi.

12/29/2024

Agree 100%

New Research Proves Horses Have Super Intelligence:

Horses are far more intelligent than most people realize, with cognitive abilities that place them among the smartest animals.

They have demonstrated skills in problem-solving, emotional intelligence, memory, and learning that rival those of many other species. For example, horses are known for their cleverness in opening stable doors or untying knots, showcasing their capacity for strategic thinking.

Emotionally, they form deep, empathetic bonds with humans and can sense feelings like pride or shame, often mirroring their human companions' emotions.

Their impressive cognitive skills also allow them to recognize symbols, communicate preferences, and adapt to complex situations, such as responding to commands in therapeutic environments.

One study even revealed that horses can adjust their communication based on whether humans are aware of hidden food, increasing visual and tactile signals like looking or nudging when their caretakers were unaware.

This ability to understand and respond to the knowledge state of others—previously thought to be unique to primates—illustrates the sophistication of horse cognition. Horses actively attempt to communicate with humans in much the same way they would with their herd members, making horse-human communication a true two-way street.

While horses may not match the intellectual capabilities of elephants, they are often considered more intelligent than dogs or cats in some areas, excelling in equine-assisted therapies where their sensitivity to human emotions makes them invaluable in psychological treatments

09/02/2024

It is with so much regret that I have decided to close the rescue. I will not be taking on any more gentle giants.

The financial stress of doing this with no financial assistance has taken its toll on my health emotionally and physically. Working off the farm full time and then working virtually just to keep the rescue going, means I’m too tired to even visit the barn. I depend on my volunteers and part time staff to do what I set out to do.

The passing of Casey was liking closing a beautiful chapter.

Thank you to those that have been there with kind words of support.

08/22/2024

Casey, Annie, Apple and Disco in their final resting place.

“They never said we are leaving
They never said goodbye
They were gone before we knew it,
And only God knew why
A million times we needed you,
A million times we cried
If love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died
In life we loved you dearly
In death we love you still
In our hearts you hold a place,
That no one could ever fill
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn’t go alone
For part of our hearts went with you,
The day God took you home.”
Author Unknown .

R.I.P. Babies.

08/16/2024

Brittany caught Emma gazing at herself in her stall mirror.

She decided to add some unique thoughts we figured Emma was thinking❤️

08/14/2024

😢🐾

08/11/2024

Casey was given his wings at 10.30am. He was respectfully buried on our farm next to Annie, Disco and Apple.

Run Free my big boy.

08/11/2024

My big boy Casey is telling me he is tired and wants to be without pain.
He is on a monstrous regime of pain medication, but I'm now needing to make the ultimate decision. Its the one part that hurts the most. Loving an animal and making the decision to send them to God is tough❤️‍🩹

08/04/2024