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The Wild Horses of Maricopa, Arizona

The Wild Horses of Maricopa, Arizona

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We’ve been visiting our newborn grand-daughter in Maricopa, Arizona these past few weeks and one day while driving near town Mikki saw a small band of wild horses. Over the course of the past few weeks, she saw these wild horses a few times. Finally, today, Mikki’s dad was able to snap a photo.

The term “wild horses” is used frequently here in the Phoenix area to name developments, a casino, gas stations, etc. but now it makes more sense to me. There really are wild horses still in Arizona and throughout the west.

Wild horses are believed to be descendants of horses brought here by Spanish conquistadors between the 1400’s and 1600’s. Today, there are thought to be less than 25,000 wild mustangs in the U.S. The horses we saw in Maricopa are managed by the Gila River Indian Community. Approximately 2,000 horses exist across their 370,000 acre reservation near Maricopa.

I like to think the west still has some wild in it and for us these horses prove it.

The Incredible Disappearing Horse

The Incredible Disappearing Horse

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Okay, I admit it. I struggled with certain subjects in school, such as math and physics. But I’m pretty good at spatial relationships and figuring out what can fit where (I’m a mean packer – especially after 10 moves in 12 years – and I can fit more in a freezer than the average person can). But this one stumps me. Take a 16.2-hand, 1200-pound horse and put him in a 12×12 stall with a bucket of feed. Let him position himself in his favorite spot in the corner. Now standoff to the side of the window about a foot and say “Abracadabra!” (Okay, “abracadabra” is optional.) And ta-da! No horse! It’s amazing!

Do you see him?

I don’t know why he has to hide to eat, but there you have it.

Funny Horse Pic: Brake Check!

Funny Horse Pic: Brake Check!

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Okay, life is a little too serious at the moment so how about some fun? Moonshine likes to chase Valentine. Valentine likes to run full bore towards the fence and then slam on the brakes at the last minute. In this picture, it looks like Moonshine might have been following a little too closely. I don’t think she ran into him but the picture sure looks like a rear-end collision! He has never actually hit the fence or the barn to my knowledge. The fence and barn wall is just to the right of this cropped photo.

Funny Horse Things I Didn’t Think Up

Funny Horse Things I Didn’t Think Up

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Laughing horseI hate to have to click on a bunch of links to get somewhere, and I’m sure you do too, but rather than steal from other people AND have a post that’s several pages long, I thought I’d just give you links to some funnies I’ve found that you might enjoy. They’re worth every click:

“How Many Horses Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb?” from Bridlepath‘s blog

“If Horses Were Software” also from Bridlepath

“What Breed Horse Are You?” from a link on HorseApproved‘s site. Not technically funny, but interesting for sure.

“The Famous Squirrel Story” – this one will have you giggling out loud, so if you’re at work, you’ve been warned. From Shady Acres, the website of Susan Evans Garlinghouse, a veterinarian and equine nutrition expert.

“Mr. Hand” – this entertaining take on sheath cleaning was written by Patricia Harris and has been extensively reprinted Web-wide (including here on this site), so I’m not sure where the original posting might be. But thank you, Ms. Harris, wherever you are, for an hysterically funny yet very educational piece of horse lore.

I’m sure many of you have found some too. Bring ’em on!

The photo above is by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash

First Annual VSMCRF Ride Against Cancer

First Annual VSMCRF Ride Against Cancer

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Trail ride

This was submitted to us via contact form – I thought it should be shared with the class. I bet it would be a lot of fun, and of course it’s for a good cause!

First Annual VSMCRF Ride Against Cancer
Benefit Trail ride to raise funds for cancer research

On May 5th, 2007, friends of BlackHawk will host the First Annual Van Stephenson Memorial Cancer Research Fund Ride Against Cancer benefit horseback trail ride at scenic Long C Trails in Westmoreland, Tennnessee.

The ride will take place from 10am-4pm, with a silent auction, raffle, and campfire sing-a-long as added events. Light refreshments will be provided, as will special pins commemorating the ride. Trail maps are available for those who have not ridden at Long C in the past, and all trails are well-marked with signs and colored tape. A $20 donation is requested for participation.

Long C Trails will have breakfast and supper available in their kitchen for an additional fee. Unlimited primitive camping is available; stalls and picketing for horses, and some campsites with RV hookups are also available with reservations recommended one week in advance. Additional fees apply to all camping.

Country music fans may remember Van Stephenson as the high harmony singer from the band BlackHawk, or as the hit songwriter behind many of their hits – and other bands’ hits like Restless Heart’s “Bluest Eyes in Texas” and “Big Dreams in a Small Town.” Van enjoyed cuts by artists as diverse as Dan Seals, Reba, Kenny Rogers, and Eric Clapton in his twenty-year career as a writer. Van lost his battle with Melanoma in 2001, and the memorial fund was one of his last wishes – that his friends help find a cure for cancer. 100% of the profits from the charity go directly to the Vanderbilt University Cancer Research Labs in Nashville.

For more information on the First Annual VSMCRF Ride Against Cancer, please call the hotline at 615-884-0276 or email littlebayroan@netzero.com.

For more information on Long C Trails, please visit www.longctrails.com.

Goat recovery horses

Goat recovery horses

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Goat recovery with horses

Who knew you could use horses when trying to recover escaped goats? I may have mentioned this but in addition to two horses, we also have two goats. We have an old male named Joey and a young female named Hanna. It’s in the upper 70’s and low 80’s this week so I thought I’d let Joey out to chomp on some grass. We put him on a long dog leash attached to an “anchor” hammered deep into the lawn. This gets him out for some fresh air and recreation and since he eats lots of grass, it keeps that section neatly trimmed. In fact, there is a visible circle in the lawn where everything inside the circle is neatly trimmed and everything outside needs mowing. We have three of these anchors so we can move the goats around or put both out at the same time. I didn’t really have time (caution…irony approaching) to put Hanna, our smaller girl goat, outside so I brought her a handful of hay. As I was putting it down in their pen, the little bugger bolted out of the partially opened gate and ran around the yard. Great. To make matters worse, Hanna is afraid of me, for some completely unknown reason. I’m as gentle as can be with her but she runs from me and runs TO Mikki. So I first try gently walking up to her, speaking softly. Doesn’t work. I grabbed some hay for bait. Doesn’t work. I try and slowly sneak up on her. No deal…I get within 6 feet and she bolts. Uggg. Then, mad, I chase after her. She’s too fast and nimble for me. Stupid fast goat. Oh, and as she runs around she’s bleating in a way that sounds remarkably like a woman screaming for her life. I swear the police are going to show up one day.

Our horses actually helped. A few times Hanna evaded me by ducking under the fence and heading for the pasture. I had to stop to open the gate and this slowed me down. The horses chewed mouthfuls of hay while watching me running around the pasture. They seemed amused. I imagine all the farm animals talking when we’re not around, like like in the movie Babe. Oh, the laughs they probably had over this race. I convinced Hanna to head back to the lawn and the horses seemed to help me corral her. I’m not sure I could have done it without them, actually. Unwitting help, I suspect. But it was appreciated just the same. I eventually did capture her; she fell for the old “food dish in the cage” routine.

So if you have goats and they get out, maybe your horse(s) will help in the recovery effort!

Horses Stretch?

Horses Stretch?

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I just got back from letting the horses out and saw something funny I want to share. In the year plus we’ve owned a horse, I have never seen a horse do what Moonshine just did. As she walked out into the pasture, she crossed her two front legs and leaned far back for a few seconds. She stretched! I didn’t realize horses did that. Sorry if this is a boring revelation to those of you who have been around horses for a long time but it’s a first for me. Sorry, no picture.

Have you seen horses stretch?

We’re still alive

We’re still alive

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Just a quick note to tell you we’re still alive. We haven’t posted these past few days because Mikki and I have been extremely busy working on a video project for our church. That project consumed pretty much all of our free time but it ended tonight. Despite moping around the pasture looking for yummy fresh grass that isn’t there, Valentine and Moonshine are fine, too. Weather’s been warm in east Tennessee. Green grass can’t be too far off. Give us a day or two and we’ll catch up. As always, thanks for reading and checking back for new posts!