Their friendship became inseparable. They grazed together, rested side by side, and greeted each new day with shared calm. For two souls that had waited so long to be seen, they became each other’s reflection of peace.
The Science of Animal Companionship
While stories like Gidget’s often touch our hearts, modern science offers fascinating insights into why such bonds matter so much — both to animals and humans.
Horses are herd animals with strong social instincts. Research published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior has shown that isolation can cause stress in horses, manifesting as restlessness, reduced appetite, or repetitive behaviors. Social contact, by contrast, releases oxytocin — often called the “love hormone” — which promotes calmness and emotional balance.
This isn’t limited to horses. Studies on many social species, from elephants to dogs, reveal that companionship reduces cortisol (a stress hormone) and strengthens immune function. Emotional bonds, it seems, are not a human invention but a biological necessity across the animal kingdom.
In Gidget’s case, Peggy became more than a friend — she was the living medicine that restored peace to a weary heart. Continue reading…
