I have often heard that animals have the ability to predict earthquakes, not through some mystical power but due to their sensitivity to vibrations. About a decade ago, my dog slept soundly through a minor earthquake that shook my house, while animals outside with direct contact to the ground can sense such tremors more keenly than humans in shoes and sturdy buildings.
In a recent video, a woman in Maine was out for a snowy trail ride with her young Appaloosa horse when the horse suddenly sensed something was wrong and tried to head back home. The woman was initially unaware of the earthquake happening until later. She shared the experience on Instagram, remarking that her horse’s behavior made sense in hindsight.
The woman described her horse, Cedar, as a young horse who enjoys prancing and exploring snowy woods, but is not a fan of earthquakes, as evidenced by his reaction to the tremors during their walk. Despite Maine not being a typical location for earthquakes, a 3.8 magnitude quake occurred on January 27th, barely registering for the woman but clearly felt by the perceptive horse.
Appaloosa horses are known for their unique spotted coat patterns and are associated with the American West and the Nez Pearce people. During earthquakes, horses like Cedar may exhibit signs of anxiety or restlessness, such as pacing or bolting.
Although the earthquake in this case was minor and posed no danger, the woman was grateful to be there for Cedar to soothe his fears, even if she didn’t immediately understand the cause. The video serves as a reminder of the sensitivity and intuition of animals like Cedar in detecting natural phenomena like earthquakes.
