Showing posts with label horses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horses. Show all posts
July 11, 2016
May 29, 2015
October 1, 2014
September 25, 2014
April 24, 2014
March 12, 2014
July 20, 2009
Smokey Looking
Click for larger view; it's done with my FotoSketcher program where it looks like an honest-to-goodness fake painting.
May 30, 2009
August 9, 2008
Ol' Smokey
This is Smokey, a horse who belongs to a pal's dad. Both Smokey and his owner are retired, and ol' Smokey is allowed to run free on the half-section where my friend's father has a small cow-calf operation south of Miami, Texas.
My friend was off work yesterday and called me, wanting me to come down. After I rolled into town, I couldn't find my buddy at home, so I went to his folk's house. His mom was there and told me they were moving some cattle from one pasture to another. She wasn't for sure which place they'd be at (they lease another half-section a few miles away) but she said they'd wind up at the place they own before they went home and I couldn't miss 'em.
I told her I would just visit with Smokey until they got there and had brought some sugar cubes and an apple for him. I really like this horse; he's more personable than most horses I've been around, and enjoys the treats I bring him and likes me to rub his ol' gnarly head.
My friend's mom said they were bringing Smokey into town; they were going to have him shot! I was taken aback, and said "Have him shot???"
She laughed, and said "No, have him SHOD!"
I am such a doofus.
The gate to their place was locked, so I knew they were at the other pasture. I drove over there, but didn't see them, so decided I'd go back and wait at the other place. This time, the gate was open so I drove down to the pens. They weren't there, but I knew they'd be back soon because Smokey was tied up to the fence.
He was glad to see me, happy to get the treats, but I could tell he was a bit miffed at being tied up. He kept looking down the road; I expect he was looking for his owner and hoping he'd soon be let loose.
He kept stamping his feet; not merely to get the flies off, but to show his displeasure at being tied up so short!
I took several videos of him; this one is the "best".
February 10, 2008
Out to Pasture
Went down to Miami to watch the Pro Bowl w/ my pal and we went to put out some hay for his dad's cows and their calves. This is his dad's old work horse, now retired. (as is his dad)
Friendly old thing, he let me rub on him and he sniffed out the sugar cube in my pocket.
He sure enjoyed the hay we put out for him. (and the cows and calves)
October 15, 2007
October 13, 2007
Ford, the Mustang
I'm sure the millions thousands hundreds dozens of several people who read this blog will remember this horse in my nonsensical post "Horse Laughs".
I drove back down to Miami yesterday, visited with some old friends while waiting on another one to get home from work. I was wanting to ask him who owned this horse, which was, at the time of my first photos, pastured across the road from his house. I pulled into his driveway, and saw this horse in what I knew to be my friend's pasture.
My old friend drove up just then, and was glad to see me, and loved the photos of his horse I had taken and printed off. I fed him (the horse) some sugar cubes and some lettuce I had brought down just for him and my friend told me the story behind the animal.
He had bought the horse for $650 from a friend of a friend, and showed me some documentation that came with the purchase. The wild mustang (hence the name "Ford") was about three years old when he was captured in Idaho on federal land by the BLM and then was taken to the Kansas state penitentiary and "broken" by inmates, then put up for adoption. He's a gelding, but is "proud cut". (Google that, I don't wanna explain it) He's now six years old.
I'm sorry I didn't get more details to the horse's story, but for some reason the Chinese beer I was drinking didn't allow for much information retention. It also got dark before I realized I hadn't taken any new photos. I also thought it was VERY dark down there, much darker than it is usually, then I realized I still had my sunglasses on.
September 3, 2007
Ebony & Ivory
There's a lovely horse out at the pens just outside the Pampa city limits; I posted some photos of it a few weeks ago in Blue-Eyed Horse.
I didn't notice last time I was out there because I had approached the pen from the other direction, but it had a pen-mate, a black beauty with a striking blaze on its forehead. (It wasn't until I got home that I realized there was another photo of this horse) The white horse has some bright blue eyes and markings.
They are certainly a contrast.
But they both LOVED the apples I brought them!
August 17, 2007
Blue-Eyed Horse
You'll have to click the photo below for a larger view and to see clearer, but this horse has the prettiest blue eyes.
It also has a long blonde mane and a color at the top of its head that makes it look like a sweatband with the hair spilling out over it. It was a hot day and the animal was lathered up a bit, too.
Reminded me of my ex-wife after her exercise classes.
Welcome to everyone who has found this post via Google or some other search engine.
There's another photo of this same horse in the post Ebony and Ivory.
August 16, 2007
Duke & Lil' Trigger
I was driving around the horse lot west of the Pampa city limits and was looking to my left when I heard the unmistakable sound of a bloodhound from the right of my vehicle. Sure 'nuff, there he was on the other side of the road.
He LOOKS to me to be at least a good bit of bloodhound and he sounded like one; I don't recall my dad ever owning one, but he had hunting dogs, both bird and 'coon.
I wasn't for sure if he'd let me pet him or if he'd be protective of his territory and want to hang a fang in me.
I got close and he "bayed" for me, that deep, hoarse mixture of a bark and a bellow.
He was wagging his tail, but....
He almost licked me to death, he was so glad to have someone to pay attention to him. I'll have to remember to bring him a chew bone next time I'm there. It makes me sad, because I know dogs get lonely too. Been there, done that, doggonnit.
I don't blame him for being lonely, because his only company in the pen was this anti-social billy goat who bleated his disapproval of the dog fraternizing with strangers. Being downwind of this billy was no treat for the dog, I'm sure, because the brown stain on his chin whiskers is where he pees on them.
At least the ol' dog had SOME company; in the pen next to him was a Shetland Pony.
The poor thing was skittish and I found out why; he was blind in one eye and could sense me on that side of him. (on the left, his right eye if you'll click the following pic for a larger view)
Duke & Lil' Trigger, that's what I named 'em.
Dunno where the rest of the Clampetts were; probably out at the cement pond.
He LOOKS to me to be at least a good bit of bloodhound and he sounded like one; I don't recall my dad ever owning one, but he had hunting dogs, both bird and 'coon.
I wasn't for sure if he'd let me pet him or if he'd be protective of his territory and want to hang a fang in me.
I got close and he "bayed" for me, that deep, hoarse mixture of a bark and a bellow.
He was wagging his tail, but....
He almost licked me to death, he was so glad to have someone to pay attention to him. I'll have to remember to bring him a chew bone next time I'm there. It makes me sad, because I know dogs get lonely too. Been there, done that, doggonnit.
I don't blame him for being lonely, because his only company in the pen was this anti-social billy goat who bleated his disapproval of the dog fraternizing with strangers. Being downwind of this billy was no treat for the dog, I'm sure, because the brown stain on his chin whiskers is where he pees on them.
At least the ol' dog had SOME company; in the pen next to him was a Shetland Pony.
The poor thing was skittish and I found out why; he was blind in one eye and could sense me on that side of him. (on the left, his right eye if you'll click the following pic for a larger view)
As long as he could see me, he stayed calm.
I'm not for sure if the horse was extra-small or the bloodhound was extra-large.
I'm not for sure if the horse was extra-small or the bloodhound was extra-large.
Duke & Lil' Trigger, that's what I named 'em.
Dunno where the rest of the Clampetts were; probably out at the cement pond.
For the Horse Lovers of ToTG
Or perhaps that should read: "For the lovers of horses here in ToTG"
I "posted" this horse just for you.
Horse lot west of Pampa city limits
August 10, 2007
Horse Laughs
I had been driving for a couple of hours and had consumed about two liters of water. Do I need to draw you a picture? Something had to be done. Quickly.
I went down a deserted road on the outskirts of town and pulled off behind a small stand of mesquite trees and got out. I had no more got started when I heard a deep voice say:
"Y'know, if you were in the city limits that'd be indecent exposure, I'm only eight years old...yuk yuk yuk."
I turned around and saw THIS!
Frightened, I staggered backwards against my truck.
"Better zip 'er up there, Wilbur." said the horse with an insultive nicker.
"Uh, wasn't quite done here, pal." I retorted.
Quicker than you could flick your tail came the rejoinder:
"Potty blush?" smirked the wise-cracking horse.
"OK Bashful...I'll turn my head, water that yucca while yer at it."
We chatted a while, then I told him I wanted to take some photos of him for my friend Barb who loves horses. He agreed, but then did some bad accents "N' Ham-shya", some snide cracks about Yankee liberals being the real horse's as...well, let's just say he was smarmy. Totally uncalled for.
He then started out on some darned life history thing, frankly it was quite boring and really unbelieveable, some blathering boasts about "Apaloosa/Arabian blood", quarterhorse this, quarterhorse that and some BS about a great great great grandfather coming in second at the Preakness, but you know... I've heard it all on the 'net, and besides, I know how Texans are about braggin', especially when he started talkin' smack about being bigger/ better/stronger/faster and much much prettier than Trigger or Silver.
I asked him if he was that rare Polka-Dot breed but he ignored me.
"Say," asked the horse. "Heard any good horse jokes lately?"
I'm clever and quick-witted, too.
"Well..."I said "A horse walks into a bar..."
" 'Why the long face?' " came the rude interruption.
He kept rubbin' it in:
" Yeah, first time I heard THAT one I was a colt, sheesh."
He snickered and stuck out his tongue. Like I said, rude.
"Heard this one?" he asked.
"A cowboy goes into a bar, has a beer, walks outside and finds his horse has been stolen. He walks back into the bar, fires his gun through the ceiling. "Which one of you mothers stole my hoss?" he yells. No one answers. "All right, I’m gonna have one more beer and if my hoss ain’t outside by the time I finish, I’m gonna do what I dun in Texas." He drinks another beer, walks outside, and his horse is back. So he gets on it and gets ready to ride out of town. The bartender walks out of the bar and asks, "Say pardner, what happened in Texas?" The cowboy turns to him, and says, 'I had to walk home.' "
"No." I told him "Wished the hell I hadn't heard it, either."
Nonplussed and with a few shakes of his ears and a swish of his tail to shoo the flies, he went on in rapid fire:
What does it mean if you find a horse shoe?
Some poor horse is walking around in his socks.
*****
What did one horse say to the other horse?
The pace is familiar but I can't remember the mane.
*****
What are the only animals to sleep with their shoes on?
A horse, of course!
*****
How many horses have three legs?
They all do!
*****
What breeds of horses can jump higher than a house?
All breeds. Houses don't jump.
*****
A man rode into town on June 3rd, stayed a week, and rode out on June 3rd. How is this possible?
His horse's name was June 3rd.
*****
How do you make a small fortune in the horse industry?
Start with a large fortune.
*****
What animal has more "hands" than feet?
Why, a horse, of course!
*****
What is the best type of story to tell a runaway horse?
A tale of WHOA!
*****
How long should a horse's legs be?
Long enough to reach the ground.
*****
When do vampires like horse racing?
When it's neck and neck.
*****
Where do horses stay in a hotel?
In the bridle suite.
*****
What did the waiter say to the horse?
I can't take your order. That's not my stable.
*****
What's the quickest way to mail a little horse?
Use the Pony Express.
Seriously, they weren't all that funny to ME, but he sure was laughin' at his own dumb jokes.
"Henny Youngman you ain't." I snorted.
I kept on the attack.
"What's with the peculiar laugh? Or is that your 'braying jackass' imitation?"
"Keep your day job." I advised.
And once again, he was rude.
Sorry, but I just don't get that sort of comedy.
I went down a deserted road on the outskirts of town and pulled off behind a small stand of mesquite trees and got out. I had no more got started when I heard a deep voice say:
"Y'know, if you were in the city limits that'd be indecent exposure, I'm only eight years old...yuk yuk yuk."
I turned around and saw THIS!
Frightened, I staggered backwards against my truck.
"Better zip 'er up there, Wilbur." said the horse with an insultive nicker.
"Uh, wasn't quite done here, pal." I retorted.
Quicker than you could flick your tail came the rejoinder:
"Potty blush?" smirked the wise-cracking horse.
"OK Bashful...I'll turn my head, water that yucca while yer at it."
We chatted a while, then I told him I wanted to take some photos of him for my friend Barb who loves horses. He agreed, but then did some bad accents "N' Ham-shya", some snide cracks about Yankee liberals being the real horse's as...well, let's just say he was smarmy. Totally uncalled for.
He then started out on some darned life history thing, frankly it was quite boring and really unbelieveable, some blathering boasts about "Apaloosa/Arabian blood", quarterhorse this, quarterhorse that and some BS about a great great great grandfather coming in second at the Preakness, but you know... I've heard it all on the 'net, and besides, I know how Texans are about braggin', especially when he started talkin' smack about being bigger/ better/stronger/faster and much much prettier than Trigger or Silver.
I asked him if he was that rare Polka-Dot breed but he ignored me.
"Say," asked the horse. "Heard any good horse jokes lately?"
I'm clever and quick-witted, too.
"Well..."I said "A horse walks into a bar..."
" 'Why the long face?' " came the rude interruption.
He kept rubbin' it in:
" Yeah, first time I heard THAT one I was a colt, sheesh."
He snickered and stuck out his tongue. Like I said, rude.
"Heard this one?" he asked.
"A cowboy goes into a bar, has a beer, walks outside and finds his horse has been stolen. He walks back into the bar, fires his gun through the ceiling. "Which one of you mothers stole my hoss?" he yells. No one answers. "All right, I’m gonna have one more beer and if my hoss ain’t outside by the time I finish, I’m gonna do what I dun in Texas." He drinks another beer, walks outside, and his horse is back. So he gets on it and gets ready to ride out of town. The bartender walks out of the bar and asks, "Say pardner, what happened in Texas?" The cowboy turns to him, and says, 'I had to walk home.' "
"No." I told him "Wished the hell I hadn't heard it, either."
Nonplussed and with a few shakes of his ears and a swish of his tail to shoo the flies, he went on in rapid fire:
What does it mean if you find a horse shoe?
Some poor horse is walking around in his socks.
*****
What did one horse say to the other horse?
The pace is familiar but I can't remember the mane.
*****
What are the only animals to sleep with their shoes on?
A horse, of course!
*****
How many horses have three legs?
They all do!
*****
What breeds of horses can jump higher than a house?
All breeds. Houses don't jump.
*****
A man rode into town on June 3rd, stayed a week, and rode out on June 3rd. How is this possible?
His horse's name was June 3rd.
*****
How do you make a small fortune in the horse industry?
Start with a large fortune.
*****
What animal has more "hands" than feet?
Why, a horse, of course!
*****
What is the best type of story to tell a runaway horse?
A tale of WHOA!
*****
How long should a horse's legs be?
Long enough to reach the ground.
*****
When do vampires like horse racing?
When it's neck and neck.
*****
Where do horses stay in a hotel?
In the bridle suite.
*****
What did the waiter say to the horse?
I can't take your order. That's not my stable.
*****
What's the quickest way to mail a little horse?
Use the Pony Express.
Seriously, they weren't all that funny to ME, but he sure was laughin' at his own dumb jokes.
"Henny Youngman you ain't." I snorted.
I kept on the attack.
"What's with the peculiar laugh? Or is that your 'braying jackass' imitation?"
"Keep your day job." I advised.
And once again, he was rude.
Sorry, but I just don't get that sort of comedy.
August 9, 2007
More Horses
Took a little road trip down to Miami and points beyond and couldn't resist taking some more horse photos. There was a herd of about eight just past the cemetery but these were the closest.
I parked, got out and walked over to the fenceline, but was ignored for a minute or two.
Curiosity got the better of a couple and they came over to investigate.
A quick nip showed who was boss, and soon it was just me and the boss.
They were really pretty, very healthy looking. I don't know much about horseflesh (or about much at all, having no horse sense) but these are being cared for very well.
Today was very hot, right at 100 deg. The fields were fairly green and lush because of the recent rains.
Got down on my knees to take a shot looking up at him with the beautiful cloudy sky in the background... and he came down with me, eye-to-eye.
"Hey dude, what are you doin'?"
He wasn't mean and he's one of the few horses I've photographed that act like they're disappointed I have a camera in my hand instead of a bridle. He even tolerated me petting him, but I'm always so tentative, I think they can sense my fear. I don't care, I want to keep my fingers, the ol' drillin' rigs didn't get any of 'em.
They're beautiful creatures.
August 6, 2007
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