A French horse is gaining a unique reputation for his incredible empathy and unusual ability to sense when someone is hurting or in need of emotional support.

His name is Peyo, and he is a fifteen year old stallion who spent many years in the show arena. Surprisingly, it was during competitions that the equine’s owner, Hassen Bouchakour, first became suspicious that Peyo may be more than your average horse.

THE GUARDIAN reports that at the conclusion of his shows, Peyo would head directly to the audience, going directly to specific people and stay with them until he was forced to leave. Many of these people had disabilities or unobservable diseases such as cancer.

Bouchakour began to suspect the horse was sensing physical or emotional needs in these individuals. He finally had his suspicions investigated by veterinarians and equine specialists, and after four years, they also concluded that Peyo’s brain is unique in it’s function. While they can’t explain how this horse can sense the things he does with such incredible accuracy, they will continue to research and analyze this incredible creature.

In 2016, Bouchakour and Peyo began working in a therapeutic capacity and left the show arena behind. The two routinely visit cancer units and palliative care units at hospitals around Calais, bringing comfort to those who are suffering.  Watching the horse work is so fascinating to observe, and his owner follows his lead, allowing him to choose which hospital rooms and patients he visits.

“I am to some extent this horse’s collateral damage, I didn’t ask for this. It took me a while to accept it. It put an end to my successful career as a sportsman, and as a showman. It was very complicated to no longer be the master, and to be forced to admit that when [Peyo] detects someone [is sick], I am no longer in control. When he decides, I cannot hold him back, it’s a need, it’s visceral, it is in him, he needs to go and cling onto the specific person he has chosen,’ says Bouchakour.

Bouchakour and the hospitals he visits take great care to thoroughly clean “Doctor Peyo,” as he has affectionately been re-named by staff and patients. After having his mane and tail neatly braided, his hooves are cleaned and sanitized, and an antibacterial lotion is applied all over his body with a clean horse blanket providing the finishing touch to his uniform.

As Peyo wanders around the hospital at free will, he incredibly heads–almost consistently–to the rooms where the patients are the most sick, many of them often on their deathbed.

He approaches these patients and then stands before them, allowing them to touch, hug, and sometimes even sit upon his back. The interaction are often quite emotional, with many patients breaking down in tears while receiving the horse’s attention.

“Patients who tend to be angry and aggressive become calm. Patients who don’t want to walk anymore start walking. Patients who don’t speak suddenly find words. Some of the ladies in senior homes even go to the hairdresser the day before Peyo comes so that they will look their best. The medical staff call it magical,” according to PETSLADY

Peyo and his trainer have brought peace and comfort to more than 1,000 terminally ill patients, helping the pass from this life to the next. Peyo’s friend Daniel passed away from his cancer in January, and Daniel’s family asked Bouchakour if he and Peyo would walk in the funeral procession as Daniel was escorted to his final resting place.

 “In the past, people died at home. Today, it is so hard because people are often dying in isolation and we see death as a drama,’ says Bouchakour. ‘It is a unique experience to look after a person who is facing death, to stay with them and tell them: “Don’t worry, you can go in peace, you won’t be forgotten.”