[americanophile]

"Most horse owners don't think of horses as pets the way they think of cats and dogs"

I don't think that's true at all. It really depends on what part of the country you're from. Their are millions of recreational horse owners who regard their horses as pets.

[Jeff Chandler]

Their are millions of recreational horse owners who regard their horses as pets.

Then this is a very recent phenomenon. Horse owners have traditionally had rational, mature attitudes towards their horses. Except, perhaps, for eight-year-old girls.