Calves Think This Horse Might Be Their Mom & It's Absolutely Adorable
Uh oh, who's going to tell them? People online couldn't help but crack up over two calves who were a little confused on who their mama was. The baby cows were posted up near someone who was definitely giving mom vibes, but as the comments section noted, she was definitely not mom!
Shared by Muddy Acres Farm in northern Maine, the video really is such a hoot. It shows the two calves huddled close to a horse at the farm. So close!
@muddyacresfarm88 One Last Breath - ELS BEATS & JÖARLEI SANTS
It's an honest enough mistake to make. The horse is a big, cow-like creature. How were the little ones supposed to know? The two babies were cozied up right next to the animal in the clip shared online. Maybe they were waiting for their new mom to tuck them in for a nap?
Related: Mother Cow Showing off Her Baby Calf Clearly Said Copy & Paste
"I think they confused who mom was," a man behind the camera said.
But don't be too concerned. It looks like their surrogate mama was happy to keep the little ones safe until their real mom returned.
I wasn't the only one who noticed that the horse was happy to play mom.
"The mare is like ‘they're not confused. I adopted them while you were sleeping,'" wrote one person.
"The way she looked at you like, ‘the only one confused around here is you. These are my babies,'" someone else teased.
"The mare side-eyeing you like, ‘Excuse me sir, mind your business,'" joked another commenter.
"She might not be the biological mom. But she is the mom that stepped up," wrote another person.
Are Horses Maternal?
It shouldn't be a surprise that the horse was willing to go the extra mile for the little ones. Horses have a strong maternal streak that can show up from the moment they give birth. Horses will often bond with their newborn babies by taking in their child's scent and licking them.
Over the next two or three days, the bond between mares and their babies gets stronger and stronger. Soon she'll recognize the little one as being hers. That's when that mama bear - erm, horse - drive kicks in. Horses really are the best moms!
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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 4:30 PM.