Darling Dog Takes Care Of Orphaned Young Foal

May 29, 2021

Everyone wants to have someone by their side when they’re feeling sad or when they’re going through a difficult time. Whether it’s a sibling, a friend, or a pet, we all crave warmth when we need it most. The same is true for animals as they also go through similar emotions and can suffer great losses.

The love and admiration animals have for one another can be breathtaking to experience. While it’s natural for animals to build bonds with one another as a means for survival, they also have emotions and feelings just like humans, which can also lead to newfound companionships.

When he was only nine days old, a foal named Tye lost his mother. The foal’s mother became sick a few days after she gave birth to him, and her health continued to deteriorate as the days went on. Thankfully for Tye, he found a new friend that night to help him overcome his heartbreak. The foal befriended an Australian cattle dog named Zip. Surprisingly, the dog had never seemed to want to make friends with the other horses at S&K Quarter Horses, owned by Karla Swindle.

While this friendship may have come as a surprise to Swindle, it’s actually not uncommon for horses and dogs to get along. In fact, National Geographic reported that these two animals have similar behavioral patterns, specifically the way they play together. Although Zip and Tye did not play together the day they became friends, Zip was there for the small foal during his time of need.

Being There In Times Of Need

The day that Tye’s mother passed seemed to be when the foal and the Australian cattle dog formed their special bond. “I spent the night at the barn taking care of the mama horse, hoping that I could pull her through,” Swindle said. “Zip stayed with me in the alley of the barn all night -- the foal was laying in the alley, and he just lay here beside the foal.”

It appeared like that was the moment when Zip realized Tye needed a friend. “You could tell that Zip knew something was wrong that night,” Swindle explained. Even though Tye was without a mother the next day, he was not alone. Zip had stuck with his newfound friend and comforted the newborn horse. According to Swindle, the foal was relaxed and happy when he was around the dog. “It seemed to me that the foal knew that the dog was trying to help him, which is so sweet,” she added.

The friendship between the two animals blossomed as the weeks went by, and Zip stayed as close to Tye as possible for the next six weeks. The dog always accompanied Swindle whenever it was time for her to go feed Tye, so he could see his fellow companion. “Every time I would take off to the barn, Zip would run to the stall and stand in front of the stall and wait for me to get there,” Swindle said. “He would beat me to the barn every time.” Once Zip would spot his friend, he would hurriedly run over to lay with him. “If the foal was laying down, he would go over there and lay his head on him,” Swindle said.

In a sweet video, the two pals were seen enjoying each other’s company. Tye was resting on the ground while Zip sat with his friend, keeping his tiny paws near the foal’s head. Tye was only 12 days old in the video and still desperately needed his newfound companion by his side.

Tye began growing up during his time spent with Zip. He soon became a healthy, grown horse who spent most of his time out in the pasture at S&K Quarter Horses with other horses. According to Swindle, Tye has learned how to fully be a horse thanks to his older sibling but is still friends with the Australian cattle dog. Although Zip still checks in on his friend, he doesn’t visit the horse as often as before. “The foal is a little rough now, raring up, trying to play, so Zip kind of stays away from him now,” Swindle explained.

Tye was fortunate enough to have a true friend during some rough moments but has since grown and has tried to become more independent. “You could tell that when the foal needed Zip, Zip was there for him,” Swindled said. “And now Zip knows that the foal is OK, so they kind of went their separate ways.” 

Although the two friends will always have a special connection, they no longer need each other as much as before. Luckily for Zip, he has made a new friend. “He loves my granddaughter,” Swindle said. “Whenever she comes over here, he goes directly to her. He treats her like he did the foal. He just loves to be around her.”

What did you think about this heartwarming story about these unlikely friends? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family to find out what they think, too.