What can a horse teach us about compassion?
By María Morena Vicente and Emiliano Rodríguez Nuesch
The health benefits of living and interacting with animals are well-documented.
Interactions with animals can significantly improve physical health and psychological well-being. Studies have shown that they can lower cortisol levels, reduce blood pressure, and alleviate loneliness while increasing social support and boosting mood.
Equine therapy is one of the most widely used and recognized forms of animal-assisted therapy worldwide.
But what can a horse teach us about compassion?
Discover Peyo’s story.
A different kind of doctor
He is called "Dr. Peyo" for a reason. Once a skilled dressage competitor, he now spends his days walking the halls of the palliative care unit at the Calais Hospital in France, offering comfort to patients in their final moments. His presence is not a routine therapy session—it is something far more instinctual and profound.
Photographs by Jeremy Lempin/Divergence.
Unlike therapy animals trained to interact with patients on command, Peyo chooses whom to visit. His trainer, Hassen Bouchakour, quickly noticed this unique ability when Peyo would signal to him by standing at the door of certain hospital rooms, insisting on entering.
PH: Jeremy Lempin/Divergence.At the hospital Peyo tells his trainer which room he wants to enter next by stopping or raising his leg.
Inside, he would nuzzle, stand beside, or rest his head on the bed of a patient, often those in severe pain or nearing death. Doctors and nurses observed that his presence had tangible effects—patients seemed calmer, anxiety levels dropped, and in some cases, even the need for pain medication lessened.
Jeremy Lempin/DivergencePeyo licks the hands of 64-year-old Roger who has just returned for the day to the palliative care unit for a blood transfusion. Roger is happy to see his ‘favourite doctor’ again. ‘Tonight he’s going to sleep well [because] he saw Peyo,’ says his wife.
Beyond his connection with patients, Peyo’s presence also serves as an emotional anchor for medical staff and families, offering a sense of solace during moments of profound grief. His visits transform the hospital’s environment into one filled with warmth and connection.
Ph:Jeremy Lempin/Divergence.
Scientists continue to study Peyo’s interactions, trying to understand whether his ability is due to scent detection, heightened sensitivity to physiological changes, or an intuitive emotional connection. Regardless of the explanation, his work highlights something deeply human: the need for presence, for connection, and for feeling seen in our most vulnerable moments.
Ph: Jeremy Lempin/Divergence. Peyo is happy to see his old friend, Daniel, 67, a former equestrian, who has terminal cancer. ‘At home, as soon as we speak to Dad about Peyo, he cries, he has stars in his eyes,’ says his son Gerald.
Peyo’s story reminds us that compassion transcends species. His ability to offer comfort and emotional support to the dying is a testament to the power of empathy—not just in humans, but in animals as well.
In a world that often values efficiency over emotional connection, Peyo teaches us that sometimes, the most profound form of healing is simply being there.
Read more
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