Chief did not move. His pasture companion slowly approached, lowered his head, and touched his back with his muzzle, trying to wake someone who would never wake up.
The person who recorded the scene earlier this year later shared that Chief had to be euthanized because of unbearable pain in his bones and tendons, something no animal should have to endure simply to remain useful. The other horse stayed by his side, sniffing him and gently nudging him with his hoof, unable to fully understand why he no longer got up.
The man who shared the video wanted to make one thing clear: horses are not work machines. They have bad days, feel pain, and also know what it means to lose a friend. Sometimes all it takes is letting them graze peacefully, brushing them, and watching them for a while to understand how deeply they feel in silence.