“That is our kitten, which was born here at the stud farm. When it was old enough to go outside and explore, we noticed that it always stood by the door where that horse was, just waiting for someone to open it,” recalls Ljubica Šipovac, our interviewee from Ergela Kelebija, describing the first encounter between these two unusual friends.
The friendship of a cat and a horse
At Ergela Kelebija, an unusual friendship was born: Cicko, the tiny kitten, is barely bigger than Espanja’s hoof, yet they are inseparable!
Love at the Kelebija Stables
That dogs and cats can be friends has been proven countless times, but when you see the unusual friendship that has blossomed between the residents of the horse stud farm in Subotica, then you’ve truly seen it all!
While Espanja, the horse, enjoys his stall or prepares for training, Cicko, a lively young kitten, playfully weaves around his legs—tiny in comparison to the powerful Andalusian stallion. The kitten comes only for a bit of affection and companionship, and the sound of its satisfied purring proves just how close they’ve become over the past few weeks.
To everyone’s surprise, when Cicko first walked into Espanja’s stall, the horse – despite being a naturally skittish animal – remained completely calm and immediately accepted the injured kitten.
“Horses are incredible animals, and their magnetic field extends in a seven-meter radius. They can sense both good and bad energies very well. I truly believe that Espanja felt that this was a small, injured kitten with no ill intent, and he accepted it as such. Most horses would have been startled, as they are naturally wary creatures, and a cat’s sudden movement could have frightened them. But he welcomed Cicko with such gentleness,” says Ljubica Šipovac.
Although Cicko often roams around the stable and the estate, which is home to over 40 horses, as well as donkeys and ponies, he is most often found near Espanja’s stall door, paying little attention to the other residents of Ergela Kelebija.
Whenever the Andalusian stallion is getting ready for training or being groomed by the staff, everything must happen under Cicko’s watchful eye – even though his tiny stature barely reaches beyond his friend’s hoof.
Ergela Kelebija in Subotica is known for many things related to driving sports and dressage riding. In addition to its various attractions, visitors can explore the Carriage Museum – and more recently, witness an unusual friendship.