A few years ago, I had the opportunity to witness an interesting incident involving a female horse who didn’t secure the first position in a race and ended up in second place. While she was already back in her stall after a cooling-down walk, the winning horse remained at the track, receiving attention and admiration from many.

The horse in the stall seemed quite restless. Concerned, I asked my friend if everything was okay, and he informed me that she was upset about losing the race. Intrigued, I approached her stall to offer some words of encouragement, praising her for her impressive performance. However, she barely acknowledged me and turned her attention to the back of the stall. I noticed a knot hole that provided a glimpse into the open and empty stall behind hers. Emitting a loud and deep whinny, she stomped her hoof before returning to my presence by the open stall. It became clear that she wasn’t seeking my attention but rather looking for something else. She extended her neck as far as she could, yearning to see beyond the stall. Curious, I inquired, “What is she looking for?” My friend responded, “The winning horse. They don’t like to lose.” With his experience as a horse jockey and trainer, he had a deeper understanding.

As if on cue, the winner of the race appeared, being walked to cool down. Passing by two other horses at the opposite end, those horses simply sniffed at the winner since they hadn’t participated in the same race. The horse in the stall next to us began stomping and whinnying as the winning horse approached. Her neck stretched out, attempting to bite the person walking the other horse! I exclaimed, “Look at her! She’s quite worked up!”

She observed as they turned the corner and swiftly made her way back to the other side of the stall, repeating the same routine. She stomped at the back of the stall and waited near the front as the other horse returned. This time, the winning horse walked farther away from the opening, ensuring that the agitated horse couldn’t bite the person. Although she couldn’t snap at him, probably due to the distance, she whinnied in a scolding manner. In response, the winner emitted a soft, calm whinny, as if telling her to be quiet. The upset horse quieted down and gazed at them as they proceeded to round the end of the stalls. She looked back at me with a sense of disbelief and shook her head.

Although they didn’t engage in a third round, witnessing this incident made me realize that there must be something horses derive from racing as well. The winning horse paraded proudly, while the horse in the stall clearly expressed her dissatisfaction.

It was an extraordinary sight that I had never seen before, offering a glimpse into the complex emotions and reactions of these remarkable animals