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!

Breaking News: Animals May Have Emotions

Tuesday September 9 2014

WBUR's Here and Now just ran a piece, "Do Animals Have Emotions?"

I've seen similar studies before, and the more I hear these, the more I wonder if researchers who take the time and money and thought to do these studies have ever spent any time around animals. If so, I don't see how they would even come up with these questions.

Being around dogs, it is blatantly obvious that dogs can be happy, sad, jealous, in love, have best pals. Our dog Austin who recently passed on to the next rabbit-chasin' world *knew* his time was up. One look in his eyes, and anyone (or, perhaps anyone who is not a scientist researching if animals have emotions) could see he knew it, and he was sad about it.

Not everybody is lucky enough to be around horses, but if you are, it's so obvious that horses have emotions. If there are researchers reading this who are considering undertaking more of these amusing studies, let me save you some time and money with these examples:


Finneas, Grandson of the Black Stallion, is conceited and he can get embarrassed, if he's humiliated in front of his subordinates.


Stormy is very possessive of me, and when I'm loving on him, he gets jealous when other horses get too close, even if he's risking a thrashing by another more dominant horse.


Horses can get mad, as Finneas did when I left for the winter; he thought I'd up and abandoned him, and when I came back he wouldn't let me near him.

If you've read Chapter 23 of my book Soul Deep in Horses, about my horse Stormy, you'll know all about how Stormy and Tex became pals. Even if Tex leaves for a while, he always returns to Stormy's side, because they are BFFs.


Horses can have fun; some of them love to play. Just ask Jose, the Owyhee Social Director, who gets the entire Chapter 22 in my book.

I guess this all might be news to some people, or, perhaps I'm missing something here, but, Do animals have emotions? Uh - hello!?

Stormy Water Dragon

Wednesday July 16 2014

I was astonished to see my horse Stormy playing in the water. All these years, I'd never seen him do that. He's a rather dignified old retired racehorse; I've rarely see him play at all, although Jose the Social Director has taught him a few glamorous moves that Stormy pulls out of his hat once a year or so.


But water? Stormy is a Water Dragon? I never suspected!

We have the perfect little pond where Stormy can teach the rest of the herd a thing or two about playing in the water.

Video here:


(or link):
http://youtu.be/SSVlJf4WMgk

Stormy, The Most Beautiful Horse On The Planet, is the star of Chapter 23 in my book, Soul Deep in Horses: Memoir of an Equestrian Vagabond, available on Amazon.

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

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]

The Dance

Sunday December 23 2012

They take turns leading in the dance: the young man Jose and the old man Krusty. It's hard to say if it's the young man who keeps the old one young, or the old man that keeps the young man from growing old.

[slide show here]

(or link)

https://picasaweb.google.com/TheEquestrianVagabond/JoseAndKrusty121512

Takes My Breath Away

Wednesday December 12 2012

Stormy, my 21-year-old retired Thoroughbred racehorse…

still turns my knees weak and simply takes my breath away.

[slide show here]

[gallery link]

https://picasaweb.google.com/TheEquestrianVagabond/MagnificentStormy121212

Fierce

Friday December 7 2012

Jose is fierce in his play with Tex on the Owyhee front.

The Wicked Wind Whispers and Moans

 

Sunday December 2 2012

Roaring down from the Owyhee mountains, the wind howled through the canyon, launching tumbleweeds, blowing down trees, tossing trash cans and wheelbarrows, hurling sand and harrying the horses.

Some (Finneas) were irritated by it, 

but some (Jose) made lemonade from lemons by rolling and reveling in it and shaking up more dust 

and (Jose) dancing around and searching for and finding victims to play with 

(like Bodie above).

Smoochies!

Friday November 30 2012

Is it love?

Smooch!

Eyes closed!

Neck hickey?

We'll see Part II of this Smoochfest next.

Start 'Em Young

November 18 2012

If you're going to live with the Owyhee herd, you'd better get used to interaction.

Mac (assistant to Social Director Jose) gets Luna started with the fundamentals of Play - the wrestle, dodge, feint, paw and rear, which will become essential as she gets older.

[slide show here]

Didn't take long before she got the basics. Soon enough she'll be totally Roughhousing with the Big Boys.

Punk

Wednesday August 15 2012

Look at that face - she looks so innocent, doesn't she?

Owyhee Super Luna at 3 1/2 months of age is sweet… most all of the time. She's very friendly, and love, LOVES to be scratched, all over. She was a bit head shy at first, but the ecstasy of being scratched got her over that. 

Really, the only time she is a punk is when you stop scratching her and start to walk away. She'll pin her ears and charge you. You have to keep glancing over your shoulders at her, and if she does charge, that's when you have to turn quick and holler and look big and more scary to her than she looks galloping at you. Gives me the goose bumps every time… sure, she's only a couple hundred pounds, but you want to nip that behavior in the bud, because pretty soon she won't be just a couple hundred pounds.

Uncle Rushcreek Mac takes no guff off her. A purposeful nip on the little punk sends her running back to mama, in a swirl of dust.

Water Boy II

Thursday July 26 2012

Jose knows how to cool down on a hot day. He sees me with a hose, and he comes up to take a shower. Sometimes I'll call him when I'm watering, and he'll come up. Sometimes he'll stand near a hose and stare at me, clearly telling me he wants a shower.

He knows how to get his whole body wet by spinning around. He especially likes water sprayed on his chest, and at least once every shower, he likes to duck his head under the stream of water.

Here he is at City of Rocks, giving himself a shower.

Love Jose!

[video here]

or link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVqqUGBAzs&feature=youtu.be

Owyhee Winter Delight

Wednesday February 15 2012

I'm not the only one who gets giddy when the snow falls. Owyhee woke up to a half inch blanket this morning - only the third time this winter we've had anything down here.

The Raven and I made snow angels while Jose frolicked,

chased the dog,

and engaged Mac in an epic battle, while in the background, the morning sun flamed pink and orange on the fresh snow in the Owyhee mountains.

Don't Mess With The Old Man II

February 13 2012

It's possible that the old man Krusty plays even harder than his younger mentor Jose.

Fire He Breathes

Wednesday January 25 2012

SNORRRRT!

He trumpets a warning, smoke rolling out of his nose in the frozen morning like a fire breathing dragon.

He rears.

He lunges

He bites.

He mocks his rivals.

SNORRRRT!

He dares his foes. 

He leaps 

and bucks. 

He romps.

 

He feints, 

and he charges.

He intimidates.

He races.

He floats.

SNORRRRT!

He surveys his domain, master of the herd.

He bolts

he dances over the snow. 

Perhaps, as a friend suggests, he is celebrating the Year of the Dragon!

(That is Stormy, my horse who never plays - he makes me LAUGH!)