Wild Donkey Gets Friendly!
September 8, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
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In This Donkey is a Ham, I learned not only that wild donkeys live in South Dakota, but one particular individual likes to stick his head in car windows! The photo I saw was a little surreal; the woman in the car seat next to the window looks completely unfazed by this interloper.
Wild burros have been with us in the southwest since the 16th century, introduced by Spaniards. They can live anywhere within 10 miles of water, so they’re a good pack animal for arid places. Since they don’t have a natural predator, they can live up to 25 years.
There are over 20,000 of them now in the USA, many of them descendants of early prospectors’ pack animals.
Farm Mules Replacing Tractor
August 26, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
High Gas Prices Drive Farmer to Use Mules was a great read! It seems that this particular farmer can actually save money by gathering hay the old fashioned way, using a team of mules instead of his tractor.
“We can feed these mules cheaper than we can buy fuel. That’s the truth,” says farmer T.R. Raymond. And apparently he’s not alone.
To me, there’s something satisfying about the prospect of going back to the basics. I guess I’m a country girl at heart, but I’ll bet those mules are happy having a job to do.
Interesting times, because Mr. Raymond is apparently not the only farmer going back to the mules. His brother thinks it’s the “way of the future.”
I say “Good for the mules!”
http://www.smellshorsey.com/2008/05/high-gas-prices.html
Oldest Horse - 51 Years of Age!
August 25, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
Old horses are rare, so when I found out about Copper, who was born in 1953 I was amazed- why, he and I are practically contemporaries! This old fellow has practically worn down his teeth, and doesn’t move too fast anymore, but he’s in good health otherwise. (I’m in a little better shape than that.)
The typical lifespan for a horse is between 25 and 30 years, and he’s already practically doubled that. It would be like a human being living 150 years. Old Copper could sure tell us some stories.
It makes you wonder, what would keep a horse going so long? Maybe, like us, he just wants to see what’s going to happen next.
(This horse by the brick wall is not Copper but seems quite wise as if he were an elder statesman.)
Przewalski’s Horse Reverse Vasectomy
August 22, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
This rare Przewalski’s horse got a reverse vasectomy recently at the National Zoo In Washington D.C.
Since 1970 this species has been extinct in the wild; the only current populations are in various zoos internationally. The Przewalski’s horse is one of very few actual wild horses left on the planet. They can apparently interbreed with domestic horses, but have a different number of chromosomes.
I think it is a wonderful horse, and hopefully this procedure will ensure lots of new baby Przewalski’s horses are brought into the world.
Beautiful Horse Photo with Star
August 17, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
This exquisite horse photograph is the epitome of equine beauty.
Isn’t it odd that “horse-faced” when describing a woman is an insult considering horses are anything but ugly? That’s one to ponder.
Clydesdale “Digger” World’s Largest Horse?
August 10, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
In Clydesdale becomes Britain’s Biggest Horse I read about the gentle horse named Digger who is already 19 hands and still growing! This translates to 6′ 5″.
Eileen Gillen is the manager of the International League for the Protection of Horses in Scotland, Digger’s home. She says “Digger is the largest horse we have ever had to deal with and at just four years old, is still a baby.” He was orphaned at a young age and hand fed. I love her description of him as “the equivalent of a growing teenage boy - never out of the fridge.”
When his head is up, this gigantic horse is already 9 feet tall - I can’t wait to see him when he finally grows into his “shoes!”
Patches the Coolest Horse
August 7, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Videos
Patches the horse was remarkable. He was lovingly trained by Mr. Herbert Thompson on his northern Florida ranch, and I think this video speaks for itself.
Wild Mustang: Saving a Beautiful Horse
August 6, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
In this blog Lessons from Wild Horses equestrian Karen Sussman says “Trust is the first building block in creating a relationship with a wild horse. It is the matrix of all relationships. We create trusting relationships when we are honest, compassionate, respectful, responsible and accountable.”
Jon Harmon, the author of this blog is also a horse lover, and he met Karen while working on a project for Ford. I also found that very interesting; a powerful automotive company wanting to do something to help the animals behind their namesake brand, The Mustang.
Karen has lived in the West for many years, developing a special bond with wild mustangs and working to protect both them and wild burros from culling and butchering. I respect someone with the initiative and the love to help these beautiful animals. She has studied their habits and their social order and has become friends with them as well.
Passion is a wonderful thing; people who have make the biggest difference of all. I wish the best for Ms. Sussman and for her beautiful wild friends.
Seeing Eye Horse- Miniature Miracle
August 2, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
When Dan Shaw, a blind man discovered the existence of minature horse works as seeing eye guide on a “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” segment, he decided he wanted to have one himself. Dan sounds like my kind of guy- a true animal lover. He knew he would bond closely to a seeing eye dog, and that it would be painful to lose one after only 15 or so years. Since horses live closer to 30 years, Dan was intrigued.
I came across this story on a wonderful blog called “Simply Marvelous, the Wonderful World of Horses” and I believe it is a blog appropriately named! I read the entire post, more fascinated with every paragraph I read.
Dan and his wife contacted Don and Janet Burelson, the couple featured on the TV show who did the training. Since there were no horse trainees available at the time, the Shaws had a wait for their very own guide horse.
Now they share their home with Cuddles, an adorable and well trained miniature horse who unerringly guides Mr. Shaw through subways, airport terminals and escalators. I wish I could see this incredible little seeing eye horse for myself.
Horse Lovers Love Thumbelina
July 25, 2008 by Merry
Filed under Horse Lovers
Horse lovers everywhere wish they could cuddle Thumbelina the tiny horse. She was in the news a couple months ago- I saw her on Fox News early one morning, in her tiny play pen of a stall, right in the middle of Manhattan. What a cutie! It seems she makes the rounds to hospitals and schools, brightening the lives of children.
She’s a miniature horse, but not just a miniature horse. She is a dwarf miniature horse! I have never seen anything like this. At birth, she weighed less than my son, only 8 ½ pounds. And now, she weighs less than a medium sized dog. (58 pounds!)
And her appetite is small too. She eats a teensy bit of oats (about a cup) 2 times daily, plus one hand full of hay. When I saw her on the news, I thought she looked little and vulnerable. But so many horse lovers can’t get enough of her that she’s probably one of the safest horses on the planet!
