This Horse Is Convinced Tiny New Donkey Is 'His Baby'- Even Skipping Meals to Watch Him
A horse adopted a tiny baby donkey as his own, even though he's not actually the dad.
In a video shared to TikTok, an Off The Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) named Gunner decided a young Donkey named Ollie would be his baby and unofficially appointed himself as his new dad. In the video, Gunner stood watch while baby Ollie grazed on the farm and ate his breakfast.
@feralatthemanor An OTTB passing up morning grain?!!! RARE.. UNLESS you are the new dad to a baby donkey …he takes his new job seriously #donkeysoftiktok#babydonkey#farmlife#horsegirl#farmtok
original sound - FeralAtTheManor
Gunner's mom tried to call after him to eat breakfast and told him, "You're not the dad," but he refused to move from his spot.
"Gunner decided to give up his food today," his mom said in the video. In the text overlay, she added: "he doesn't know baby Ollie is his; he even gave up breakfast to watch the baby."
In the caption, she also wrote, "An OTTB passing up morning grain?!!! RARE.. UNLESS you are the new dad to a baby donkey. He takes his new job seriously."
People in the comments came together to defend Gunner's actions, saying, "He's not the stepdad, he's the dad who stepped up."
"Aww, he can be the stepdad if he wants, don't take that from him ," one user wrote. "I guarantee he will be the best dad/stepdad there is." Another user said that it seemed like Gunner "is trying to be a stepdad," and his mom also noted that "he claimed that spot with a quickness."
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Why Some Horses Are Protective
Horses are known to have special bonds with other horses and animals around them. According to The Saddle Barn, "horses commonly build strong friendships with a few trusted companions."
Some ways a horse bonds with its friends include mutual grooming, sticking close to them, and sharing space. In fact, some horses can even become extra protective of their friends, too. The organization explained that they can become protective, especially when another animal or intruder gets too close to the friend.
The Saddle Barn explains that the reason horse friendships are so important is that "bonded horses often show greater emotional stability, better overall health, and more positive behavior. Being social is not optional for horses; it is part of who they are."
So what's the best way for horse parents to nurture their horse's friendships? The organization suggests allowing their horses plenty of time to bond and spend time with their friend, not separating them, and even placing them together as much as possible in order to keep their horses and their friends happy.
Related: A Horse Greets Her Mom in the Most Magical Way Possible
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This story was originally published May 5, 2026 at 3:06 PM.