Beardsicles

Sunday January 1 2017

Hoar frost is one of the biggest delights of winter. Mother Nature creates delicate icy designs with fog and cold and a slight breeze.

On this day, the hoar frost collected on Finneas' mane and under his chin for a nice beardsicle.

It also grew on legs

and tails.

Winter art!

Jose's New Play Toy

Thursday December 29 2016

Since Mac, Jose's bestest playin'est roughhousingest friend crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Jose's been short of a hard-playing pal.

The Owyhee Social Director still tries to stir the pot, running around on his own if necessary, biting his ankle, nipping and teasing with some horses, but he hasn't had much luck the last year or two.

Enter Hillbilly Willie. The Standardbred came to the Owyhee herd about a year ago, and spent most of the year very slowly melding with the herd. Owyhee Social Director Jose shunned him like the rest of the herd… but it was all part of his big hard-playing plan, you see.

Willie is possibly not the brightest bulb on the Owyhee Christmas tree, and he's not the lightest and quickest on his hooves, but Jose chose him to be his next horseplay accomplice. All it took was a good first dash of winter and a hair-raising breeze that got the entire herd a bit excited and in a rompus mood. And Jose got Willie to start playing.

It starts with an instigating bite on the ass

then a little romping.

then a little "bite my ankle" demonstration

Teaching Willie the Strike

The advanced bite and dodge move

Once Willie catches some air, Jose's got a willing new play toy!

Come A Running

Monday May 2 2016

I love it when the herd answers my whistles and comes thundering down from the canyon when I call them back for the night.

Here Jose leads the gang, with the still-snow-covered Owyhees as a gorgeous backdrop in the evening sun.

Happy Holidays!

Wednesday December 24 2014

Have a Merry Christmas and/or a Contented Feast of the Immaculate Conception!
Happy Hanukkah!
Joyous Kwanzaa!
Kickn' "Tet!"
Blissful Bodhi Day!
Cheerful Maunajiyaras!
Wonderful Festival of Lights!
Blessed Ramadan!
Good Winter Solstice and/or a Joyful Canadian Boxing Day!
Festive Festivus!
and a Happy New Year!

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Owyhee Spring

Thursday March 20 2014

The Old Farmer's Almanac says of the first day of spring: "Ah, spring! This season brings increasing daylight, warming temperatures, and the rebirth of flora and fauna."

The Owyhee Herd says of the first day of spring: "Ah, spring! Shedding horse hair, wisps of green grass to munch on, cows on the hillsides to stare at and run away from, sunshine glaring off the ice-sheened Owyhee mountains, brisk wind, romping in the breeze."

Happy Spring Equinox!

Merry Christmas Hoar Frost

Sunday December 22 2013

Wikipedia says the ice crystals form on cold clear nights, but I've always seen hoar frost after a moist fog blankets an area well under freezing temperatures. "Air hoar" is frost crystals on the surface of things - baling twine, horse hair, even horse coats, eyelashes, manes and tails. "Surface hoar" is fernlike ice crystals deposited directly on frozen surfaces (like, say, the ice already in your water troughs).

The word Hoar, says Wikipedia, "comes from an Old English adjective for showing signs of old age, and is used in this context in reference to the frost which makes trees and bushes look like white hair."

We'll call it Santa's beard here.

Merry Christmas all!
 

 

Autumn Gold Dust

 

Monday November 18 2013

Nothing eclipses this time of year when the dust and the evening sun angle adds drama to the outlines of the desert hills and Owyhee mountains.

 The herd strolls down from the canyon

Stormy ambles among the saltbush

Rhett stops to eye me suspiciously

 The cottonwoods are rather riotous!

 

Grumpy Old Men

 

Monday March 25 2013

Well, they might look grumpy, but really the 20+ 'old' boys Stormy and Krusty are playing, going at it hard.

My horse Stormy the Thoroughbred (the lighter one with the long blaze) is learning the art of ferocity from Mighty Mouth, or Bitey Mouth, Krusty the Olov Trotter.

No mercy, and no crying Uncle!

[slide show here]


or link
https://picasaweb.google.com/TheEquestrianVagabond/GrumpyOldMen3202013

Oldies But Goodies

Wednesday January 30 2013

Who you calling Old?

Stormy: retired Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of 6 races and $45,882, known as The Most Beautiful Horse On The Planet,
about to turn 22.




(And above, rearing at Krusty).

Krusty: semi-retired Orlov Trotter endurance horse, 3215 endurance miles, 7 100-mile finishes, Tevis Cup finisher, France World Championship finisher, lesson horse, confidence giver, semi-herd boss,
about to turn 23.




(and above left with Stormy)

Rhett: not-quite-retired Arabian endurance horse, 6065 endurance miles, 9 100-mile finishes, Tevis Cup finisher, semi-herd boss,
about to turn 22.




Don't be messin' with these old boys. Besides, they're not old. They're just right.

Being Neighborly

Saturday January 26 2013

Way out here up the crick in Owyhee, it's easy to hunker down and keep to yourself. It's not a dislike of humans or neighbors, it's just … a way of life. We'll do anything for each other, and run over when needed, but we generally keep to our own little crick bubbles.

This reclusive existence gets turned on its head when Linda brings the Owyhee Menagerie to visit.

Linda's Menagerie always causes a ruckus with the Owyhee herd, and how could they not? Birdie the mule, Hoot the miniature horse, a couple of running barking little dogs, Edna the donkey with her best friend, a big Yeti-monster dog named Goat, with Linda leading the way, yelling at all of them, not being listened to by any… they all make for a rather unorthodox disparate herd collection that would boggle the mind of any self-respecting horse.

The first sighting of the approaching Menagerie causes extreme alertness:


Then comes apprehension, crowding, dodging, avoiding, shoving ("You get closer. No, YOU get closer!").


In the foal Luna's case it's ultra perplexion at these odd creatures.


Ultimately, desperate curiosity wins out and consumes the Owyhee herd. Noses must be touched and scents inhaled.
 

 




The motley Menagerie shows off:






and then pauses to ponder the Owyhee horses:
 




It's always an entertaining treat for both herds, this neighborly get together on the crick.

In Linda's word: "whenever linda and her crew come calling KAOS ensues!!! [The Owyhee] herd comes a running. goat-dog starts bugging them w/barking, linda yelling, chasing Goat dog. edna and birdie running around the snow covered garden spot.....and hoot....is touching noses and running underneath the horses noses and driving them nuts."

Clashing Through the Snow

Sunday December 30 2012

An Owyhee snowfall brings out the tallest and mightiest and fiercest of the Owyhee herd. 

[slide show here]

Dashing Through the Snow

Thursday December 27 2012

A few flakes don't stop the Owyhee herd from dashing through the snow.

[slide show here]