When we consider the “hero” archetype in the animal kingdom, the mind almost instinctively settles on the domestic dog. We are accustomed to tales of canines alerting families to fires or pulling swimmers from riptides; it is part of their cultural identity as “man’s best friend.” Rarely, if ever, do we expect a horse to take on the role of a first responder. Yet, a remarkable event in a Somerset, England, stable has challenged those preconceptions, proving that the bond between stablemates can be as powerful as any human lifeline. The drama centered on Beatrice, a 16-year-old Shire horse—a majestic...
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