I think animals have much shorter memories than us. There are horses next to my parents' place. I go feed and scrub them every time I'm there (they're abandoned, which is scandalous, almost starved to death last winter), which varies widely: I housesit for a few weeks in the summer, then come for a few days at a time every few weeks.
When I'm there for a while, their behaviour changes: the white mare starts running as soon as she sees me, and gets more aggressive about blocking my exit if she thinks she hasn't been brushed nearly enough, and more directive about *where* she wants to be brushed, and more touchy feely (head resting on my shoulder, between my legs...), she'll even let me bash her with the brush without a peep when I try to squash those nasty (big flies that suck blood... translation ?); the gray gelding gets ever more pushy about grabbing his carrots (and less afraid of the plastic bag or backpack they're in), and lets himself be brushed after a few days (he moves away when I start the first few days), he'll also start bumping me in the back with his nose (must be horsey for either a fist bump or "more carrots or else !").
If I've been away for a couple of months, we start from scratch: I've got to go get them, the mare will be nervous during brushing, the gelding won't let himself be touched, and neither will touch me. I've tried talking to them, wearing the same clothes... they just don't seem to click.
