The Journal of Animal Consciousness Vol 1, Issue 2 Vol 1 Issue 2 | Page 36

both in captivity and the wild. Indeed, Dr Cynthia

numerous attempts one of the females was unable to

Moss, renowned for her research with wild African

place her token in the slot, her mate picked up the

elephants describes the courage, patience and

dropped token and inserted them in the slot for her

perseverance of a matriach for her newborn when it

(Bekoff, 2000). He did not attempt to take the food

failed to walk immediately (Bekoff, 2000). Left by

but let it for her to consume (Bekoff, 2000). This

the rest of the herd, with the exception for the

exhibition of empathy is truly remarkable!

elephants adult daughter, she continued to nudge and

Contemporary scientific ideas tend to objectify the

support the newborn to take its first steps - it did so

world based on the notion that animals are irrational,

after three days (Bekoff, 2000). Emotions are

unintentional and void of consciousness. From the

categorized into primary and secondary (Bekoff,

aforementioned examples this is a highly

2000). Primary emotions are those that are

reductionistic, elitist and dogmatic world view. It is

instinctual, appearing as automatic for example, the

the belief of this author that this belief system will

flight and fight response (Bekoff, 2000). On the

generate outcomes resonating with these same ideas.

other hand, secondary emotions are those that are
experienced and reflected upon (Bekoff, 2000). In

How does this translate to the world of

the example above the matriarch demonstrated

Equidae? Scientifically, the horse is classified as a

instinctual emotions leading her to protect and

“solidungulate perissodactyl mammal of the family

support her newborn, however, does the presence of

Equidae and genus Equus” (Etymonline.com, 2015).

her daughter throughout the ordeal represent higher

Horses (Equus caballus) have been a part of human

emotions of compassion (Bekoff, 2000)? There are

civilization for thousands of years. It is estimated

numerous examples cited by Bekoff (2000) showing

that horses were domesticated about 3500BC (Curtis

emotional lives of animals from the greeting

& Tallis, 2012).

rumbles, ear flapping and body spinning when

transportation during feast, famine and war.

elephant kin reunite to wolves whining and wagging

horse is therefore a vital and yet unappreciated

their tails when individuals rejoin the pack. Such

contributor to modern human civilization.

simple emotions are not the only ones that have been

1800s heralded a change in the ‘use’ of the horse

cited, indeed Diana monkey’s have been observed in

(Curtis & Tallis, 2012).

what can be termed as a form of empathy (Bekoff,

steam locomotive ushered in the industrial age and

2000).

with it contemporary ideas about Equus and its

Individuals were trained to insert a token

into a slot to receive food (Bekoff, 2000). After

Horses were the sole mode of
The

The

The development of the

‘viability’ (Curtis & Tallis, 2012). Indeed, the most

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© The Society for Animal Consciousness 2016.

Issue 2, Vol 1, April 2016.