People often say that friendship knows no boundaries. In the animal kingdom where the survival of the fittest prevails, friendships can transcend appearances and species differences, showcasing deep bonds that can be truly heartwarming.
A special bond between a Border Collie named “Steve” and a young horse named “Treacle” in the UK has recently captured the hearts of many on the internet. Tanya Tydeman, a 46-year-old woman living in Gloucestershire, England, owns this unique pair of “dog-horse best friends” on a small horse farm.
Initially, Tydeman had no intention of keeping Steve. She had been raising Steve’s mother, Panda, and when Panda gave birth to a litter of puppies, including Steve, she sold them off. However, shortly after Steve was adopted, his new family underwent a tragedy and had to move abroad, leaving Steve in need of a new home.
“They asked me to find a new home for him, and during that time, we all fell in love with him and couldn’t bear to let him go,” Tydeman told Epoch Times. “He is the cutest and friendliest dog I’ve ever seen. He wants to be friends with everyone and everything he meets, including horses, which is quite unusual.”
Eager to socialize, Steve quickly formed a unique bond with the just 8-week-old Treacle.
One day, as Tydeman went to check on the horses, Steve tagged along and that’s how Steve and Treacle met. Normally, Tydeman doesn’t allow dogs in the horse area due to her careful attention to horse care. But on that day, Steve came with her and sat quietly, displaying remarkable manners for a dog. Soon, the young mare Treacle started approaching him.
“Steve was very patient with the young horse, and Treacle came closer to sniff him, hesitating at first, perhaps unsure of how Steve would react. But eventually, this unlikely duo became great friends.”
After their first meeting, Tydeman noticed Steve sneaking over to Treacle’s pen often, and from then on, their relationship only grew stronger. Tydeman frequently witnessed Steve crawling under the fence to join Treacle in her living area, where they would sniff and kiss each other, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company.
Not wanting to keep this wonderful interspecies friendship to herself, Tydeman began sharing videos of their sweet interactions on her Instagram account @tmilne123. She remarked, “Seeing two species that don’t usually interact bond like this is just beautiful.”
These videos quickly garnered a large following online, with Tydeman noting that Steve has become quite famous. One viewer commented, “If it’s a true soulmate, no matter what form it takes, you can recognize each other at a glance!”
Another internet user wrote, “This scene really touched my heart.”
The heartwarming friendship between Steve the dog and Treacle the horse continues to inspire many online, reminding us of the power of unconditional bonds that can form between even the most unlikely of companions.