Some animals are truly more equal than others. Years ago we had a really smart horse. (And those of you who have been around horses much do know what an oxymoron that is.)
So this cat moves in. She was one of those that just moved in, no chip and no other luck finding her home. And she was pregnant and made a little nest and had her kittens.
And the smart cookie of a mare that I began this with made sure that we knew where the kittens were.
Then there’s the normal horse experience where there’s been a rock close to road for years. Then on one random occasion the rock is an apex predator.
On the last paragraph: it is quite common for a horse to be perfectly comfortable on a particular route. Be it from stable to field or on regular riding track. And after half a decade something that has always been there is just unbearably scary for them. A rock, a fence post, a post box, literally anything.
And on those kittens - horses are quite elaborate on their body language. That cat had made her nest behind the wall of said horses stall. Behind that stall was an area mostly relegated to tools - wheelbarrows and shovels and such. Said mare was also extremely interested in food, when something is more important than evening meal it raises eyebrows. First thing that comes in mind on situation like that is illness.
But that time she was clearly healthy and happy. Every time we’d get close by she was neighing and pointing with with her head. And sure enough, there was a nest behind the wall and sure enough the cat and those kittens needed a bit of help.