Lovelly Pets: March 2011

My Cat Goma Blog Update

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 03:17 PM PDT

SACHIE: Oh Goma it's ok, you can share that box with Kuma.
GOMA: NOOOOOZ! I no want! Kuma annoyings!!
SACHIE: Oh he just wants to play Goma.
KUMA: I can has box!
GOMA: NO You go away!
SACHIE: Sigh, this never ends...

BTB: Quaterback: recent footage

Quaterback: recent footage

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 11:37 AM PDT

It's been awhile since we've seen good footage of Quaterback, the stallion I'm so ga-ga over. Here he is in action. The first video is not great quality but shows some upper level movements; the second is better quality but less showing off. The third video is a Dutch stallion by Quaterback, really lovely.

Dutch use of Quaterback

Riley and Harvey: turnout togetherness?

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 11:33 AM PDT

Recall that Riley lost a shoe and a fair amount of hoof in mid-March. If he loses that shoe again we may have to wait for more hoof to grow to reshoe, so he's being worked daily but not turned out -- at least not much. In the past couple of weeks Riley has been turned out twice, maybe three times, on Ace. His herd mate E--- is a frisky, nudgy sort, which is good (they are two peas in a pod) and bad (I'd rather he not careen around in his current state).

Well, yesterday, on 2ccs of Ace, I turned Riley out with E----. E---- had been so lonely his inner nudge was in full force, and within ten minutes they were careening around, Riley looking unhappy, E---- looking like the pesky little brother. When I brought him in he had lost a shoe nail. Turnout with E---- is not happenin'. Soooo....

What about Harv?
I have secretly longed for them to go out together, for good reasons and sentimental reasons. Harv has a compatible pasturemate, but that horse (S-----) can go out alone. Should I break them up to put Harv with Riley? My barn manager points out that Harv is not always the quiet old codger, and he and his current mate do run around at times -- but usually Harv doesn't instigate. He's just running to maintain his self-respect. Should I put my boys out together? Help me to figure it out....

PROS

Okay, I'm sentimental. I want them to be friends.
I'm in charge. It would be nice to have total control over turnout. Because both horses are mine I could handle their turnout at "off" times if I see fit. No one would complain if I modified turnout or changed their routine.
Peace and quiet. Harv is likely to stand and eat, or just stand and gaze.
Safety. Harv does not injure other horses. He is GREAT turnout partner, dominant but not a jerk.
Chemistry. Riley is a nudge, but he can be put in his place by the right herd-mate (a superb communicator such as Harv).
Cost savings. Harv does not play halter tag (fewer replacements) and he does not shred blankets.

CONS

Senimental counterpoint. Harv loves his current turnout mate and good buddy S-----.
Fairness to Harv. If Riley needs to stay in (e.g., too muddy), Harv would need to stay in unless I could convince the barn manager he could go out with S----- on occasion. Harv cannot go out by himself. Unlike Harv, Ri's current buddy E---- can go out alone.
A quiet thoroughbred? Harv may not run often, he has his moments of crazed nutty behavior. If E---- is more active, he is also more out of shape and he loses steam fast. Harv? He's a thoroughbred.
Fairness to my retired boy. Harv may be good for Riley, but Riley may not be good for Harv. He does not suffer nudges gladly. Harv would have to lay ground rules and restate them often, I fear. S---- is malleable. Riley is not.

What do you think?

Puppy on a Roomba

Wordless Wednesday (on Thursday, ooops): Running the Farms!

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 08:11 AM PDT

Daisy the Curly Cat

Friend or Foe?

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 01:00 AM PDT

This is Daisy's sock-kitty FRIEND named Craisy. If she is a friend of DAISY'S, I think she will be MY FRIEND, too! This is me and CRAISY just HANGING out.

UH OH! Craisy is getting a little bit.... CRAZY! She's got me in a HEADLOCK!

CRAISY! I surrender!

Your Daily Cute: Baby Elephants in a Pool

Baby Elephants in a Pool

Posted: 30 Mar 2011 09:05 PM PDT

Baylor and Tupelo the baby elephants are just like two regular kids -- they love to splash around in the pool!Tupelo is the smaller baby elephant who can't seem to find a good spot to soak in at first. He gets out, thinks about it, then plop! Just kind of side flops back in. That's my favorite part, I think.Don't they just look like they're having so much fun?BONUS CUTE: Another baby elephant in