Neat pics raven. OMG, I collected those model horses too- called "Breyers" right? I just sold my entire collection (600+) over the internet, a woman in Oklahoma bought most of them. I was so obsessed w/them growing up; I made little saddles and bridles for them, blankets, halters, etc. My dad made me a barn for them, I used to photograph them too, and people would say that they looked like real horses in the pics! I even showed them- it was crazy. Well, they can be expensive to buy, so I had to choose between the real horses or the fake ones.....cant ride the fake ones (but at least ya dont have to clean up after them lol)so I sold them all, broke my heart, but im over it. Yeah, Ive seen 'Cloud'- pretty neat. The only part that disturbed me a bit was when that one stallion killed that foal by shaking it to death; it had to be done b/c the foal was sick, but that was violent to watch! Its a shame that mustang herds are nearly gone now- I had a chance to see them when I was Medora, North dakota a couple years ago, but all I saw were Buffalo! My neighbors up the street adopted 2 mustangs last year from South Dakota- boy are they ever pretty! I have thought about doing that too one day. I love to ride hard, and I guess they are tough and smart and very surefooted.

 

Heres one of that wonderful stud colt we lost in 05'; his name was "Majestic Witez" aka "Blake"- this was taken shortly before he died.
('Witez' comes from his sire-line, a famous stallion rescued during WWII, "Witez II" was his name- was brought to the US and sired so many champions, cant count them all)

 

I think horses are the number one most beautiful animal on earth... They just take your breathe away sometimes...

I think that the Stallion (named "Looking Glass"), in the "Cloud", documentary that attacked, and killed that new born foal, did it for three reasons.

One the foal wasn't his, "Looking Glass" sniffed the foal before he attacked, and killed it... It's like a lot of other animals. The males will kill young that are not their own...

Second, I think that the band Stallion that was the sire wasn't paying attention, and doing his job to protect his entire band.

Third, it also could have been that the band the foal belonged too, realized the foal wouldn't be able to get to it's feet. Abandoned it, leaving it vulnerable to attack by the Stallion that did kill it (doing so because it was not one of his own foals)...

I suppose a horse expert would have to explain why he did it... I'm no expert, I've just observed a lot of animal behavior, from those I've worked with in the past, my own pets, and definitely watched plenty of animal nature programs... :wink:

I have Breyer model horses too... I did give a few away when I got older, but, I kept my favorites... I have a Palomino Quarter Horse, and I made him a bridle, blanket, and I got him a western saddle... I have an Andalusian, an Appaloosa my father gave me for one birthday when I was a kid, and I actually bought a few years ago a collection of wild Mustang... They were more for decoration, since I have a horse theme going on in my living room... :lol:

I may not have the real thing, but, I still surround myself with their presence... Even if they are in photos, and models... :wink:

There are plenty of places around here where I can go to see horses, and recently a place not far from here that only taught lessons, has now decided to offer trail rides as well... I've not gone yet... One of these days I will... It's not cheap to rent a horse for an hour ride. They are charging around $35.00 an hour...

I think when I was a kid, it cost $15.00 to $20.00 an hour... But, it's been a long time since I've gone riding...

When I lived with a former "roommate" who actually owned an old farm house, and had two horses she used in endurance riding... We took both her horses out for a nice trail ride one day... But, she was cruel to her old mare... She kicked this poor horse in the stomach, when she was trying to saddle her, yelling at her. Because she said, she was trying to bloat herself up... I couldn't say anything to her, because I was renting a room in her home. I didn't want there to be a conflict that could cost me the roof over my head... But, really I wanted to give her, what she gave that poor horse... The horse did have an attitude sometimes, but, there was no need to kick the life out of that poor old horse...

I believe there are two types of people who deal with animals, those who treat them well, and truly understand them... Then there are those who think that cruelty is the way to control an animal...

I prefer love, kindness, and patience... Animals are just honest, and straight forward with you... They know those people they can trust, and who truly are their friends, and they know when someone isn't an animal person... It's like when a dog that is friendly, suddenly growls for no apparent reason at someone... They just know who the good people are, and who the bad people are in this world...

Anyway, I went on the trail ride that day... But, I never asked to go again... I didn't want her to beat the tar out of that horse again, just to saddle her up... Even if the same situation didn't happen again. I wasn't going to risk having that poor mare beaten...

I really do have a rage well up inside me, whenever I see someone being cruel to any animal... I almost exploded on one of my former bosses at the Dairy Farm... He was one of the owners... Because of his own mistake one day, he took it out on the cows, literally physically beating them, and raging at them, even though they had done nothing, besides the fact that they shouldn't have been beaten in the first place... I saw this out the barn window... I wanted to run down to the corral, and scream at him, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING, STOP'!!!!... But, again here was a situation that I was at their mercy, because I was their employee...

I swear my blood pressure went through the roof... After work I went out and tried to give some comfort to the cows he had beaten... Just so they would realize that not all humans were cruel, and to be feared... I hated that man after that event... I avoided him as much as possible, and rarely spoke to him after that... Before this happened I liked the guy. But, after this happened I hated him... Unfortunately he turned out to be an abusive man with people as well... He made a comment to me one day, that I was about to walk out the door, and quit... But, his brother talked me out of it... He was verbally abusive to his own kids too, when they would come down to the barn sometimes to help out (usually when someone went on vacation)...

People like that don't deserve to exist.. How any human being can be cruel to animals is beyond me... WE, are the ones who bring them into our lives, and WE are the ones who take on that responsibility... It is a choice... If you can't deal with animals, then don't get them... Then again there are people who are cruel to their own children as well... At least these days though, if you beat your kids you will hopefully go to jail for a long time... What bothers me is, that the animals can't speak for themselves, and there isn't anyone around to protect them from that cruelty...


What happened to your stud colt?... I may have missed you mentioning him...

I saw that race with Barbaro, and it ripped my heart out to see that horse get injured, and eventually be euthanized... Like years ago when that famous Filly "Ruffian" had her match race...

I think they are over breeding these race horses, allowing for legs that are just to thin, and to fragile... Several horses have been euthanized during, and since Barbaro's passing... It's just cruel... It turned me away from horse racing...

Well, I'll look forward to more of your photos, and any more recent ones of your new colt... He is adorable... :wink:

 

Found this article on line about horse behavior...

This explains why Stallions kill foals... Not sure if it is the only explanation, but, it was all I could find for now, online...

Breeding ... In addition to the flight or fight behavior of horses, the breeding behaviors come in second to the regulatory behavior. All mutual groomings, play, fighting among the herd members - all thee behaviors arise from the horse's instinctual need to survive as a species. Every behavior has an innuendo that is clearly understood by another equine whether it be threatening or friendly. It is important that humans who keep horses understand these behaviors especially when working around and with an uncut stallion. The stallion lives for one reason only ... to breed and carry on the species. So strong is this instinct that the stallion will kill his own get if he perceives the foal is a threat to the survival of his herd. It is viewed by humans as a vicious, violent behavior when it is actually simply a behavior displaying the need for "survival of the fittest". A foal that is sick or injured will hold the herd back in the face of threats thus putting the entire herd at risk. The stallion instinctually cannot allow this to happen.

Though this article explains the behavior, it leaves me with the question, why didn't the band stallion that sired the foal, kill his own foal, instead of ignoring it?... The program in some respects leaves you with more questions, than answers... :?

 

Well, that foal was sick from birth, and 'Looking Glass' knew it; he basically put the foal out of its misery; seems harsh to us, but in nature that was the best thing for that foal.

Some people simply just dont know better when it comes to animals; they think 'I have 5 acres, I'll get a horse". I get customers like that calling me all the time; they thought it would be so simple.....throw it some food, let it eat snow in the winter, and maybe ride it once in a while. Then there are those who DO know better but chose to be cruel- I've seen a lot of that too.

"Blake" was the colt that died from bleeding-out (a fungal infection in his sinuses). Our baby-colt right now, "Edge", hurt himself yesterday- hes now lame on his right foreleg, I have no idea why; I seen him fall (which is normal for him lol) but he must have pulled a ligament or something, poor little guy. I've been massaging his leg gently, I'm sure he will be ok.

 

Awww, the poor little guy... Well, I hope he'll be o.k., and back to romping around again soon. Hopefully he'll romp around a little more gently next time... :wink:

Yeah, it's sad that people just don't realize all that is required of them when they get a horse, or any other pet...

Ah, now I recall you mentioning that stud colt, so sorry that had to happen, I know how painful it is to lose an animal you care deeply about...

Hopefully your new colt Edge will be back to his old self, in no time... Maybe "Edge" isn't such a good name for him after all... :lol: He seems to be living on the "edge", trying to be a little dare devil... :wink:

Well, I'm sure he'll be fine, he's got you to care for him...

 

lol; yeah, hes much more careful now when hes tearin' around the paddock; not limping as bad anymore either. Wanted to tell ya that I am gonna try n' take a pic of that bull I was tellin you about; he is still there and I have to go get hay tonight or tomorrow night- his name is "Junior"

 

Well, I'll look forward to seeing his photo... Do you know what breed of Cattle "Junior" is?...

Glad to hear that "Edge" is doing better today...

You'll never guess what's going to be on television!...

I just saw a commercial that the story of "Ruffian", is going to be on television this weekend... The famous filly that lost her life, in a match race with Foolish Pleasure in 1975 at the Belmont race track, when she shattered her right front ankle...

It will be airing at 9 PM, this Saturday night, on ABC...

I watched that race, and it broke my heart... I loved that horse, she was big, powerful, and considered a superstar in horse racing... She was the fastest female race horse to ever race...

It is amazing to think that her last race was 32 years ago... I was so angry when they had to put her down that same day... She is buried at the New York Belmont Race Track... I was only 13 yrs. old when she had her last race...

It should be an interesting story, even though we already know how it ends...

Well, I'll be looking for those photos of your hay suppliers Bull...

 

Here he is! (the guy thought I was a bit goofy wanting to take pix of his steer! :lol: ) I guess he has one more week before... :shock: He took grass from my hand too, which isnt like him b/c he is very spooky. :wink:

 

ok, one more...