For All You Wildlife Fans!

I was out walking the fenceline when I heard this wild clucking sound. This is the reason why I generally have a camera in my pocket.

This mother partridge (or Ruffed Grouse) was very, very upset with me for getting too close to her chicks.
I saw three chicks take off and fly for cover, but was unable to get pictures 'cause they were so fast. There were about the size of a cow bird, and really speedy!


The hen was bristling and would make a run at me, then try to get me to follow away from the direction the chicks went.

Finally, she flew into the tree and at that point I figured it was time to let her be.

She gave me a half hour of entertainment that you can't put a price tag on.

Odds and Sods

While I was sitting still in the back yard, I looked over my shoulder to see this little knob head sneaking up on my salt lick. My pearless protector of all things on the acreage was sound asleep  in a sunny spot. That's ok, 'cause he knows he can't catch a whitetail. Besides, that requires effort.

There are 6 or 7 of these youngsters hanging out in the area. This one seemed to have a craving for salt.

This guy is Boom in his winter coat. He is also known as the "Wooley Mammoth".

Boom is the old timer of the area. We think he is between 24 and 30.

The last picture is Boom again, almost finished shedding one big mass of hair. Same horse, 6 months apart. We do not have  a barn ( yeah, no mucking out to do!) and we don't supply horse blankets. The horses have a shelter to get out of the wind, and a very thick coat to combat the cold. Fresh snow will not melt on their backs and forms another layer of insulation.

For those of you with herd bound horses, I think I have found the solution!

I put them on fresh grass for about an hour. That mellows them out. Then I put a saddle  and tack on one and lead that horse for about a mile. By the end of the mile, I appear to be the leader. I then climb aboard and continue away from the other 2.  I decided to try this as I did have a couple of rodeos going. I figured it's safer on the ground if they blow up than doing a face plant.

Boom is Elaine's horse.
It seems to be working. I had a very enjoyable ride yesterday and today.

Extra Horses

For the past six years, every February these guys show up. They seem to come out of the valley and hang around for a few weeks. To give some perspective, the top fence wires are 4 feet off the ground. These two are a cow, bull pair. The bull has lost it's antlers but is readily recognizable by the long bell under his chin. What is not shown are my 3 horses going absolutely nuts in the field, running, blowing and snorting. you definitely do not want to be on board when this is going on!

I tried to get some better lighting, but they were feeding and moving off, probably to find a sunny spot to sleep. The bull was not overly big, probably about 1000 pounds.

I kind of think that horses consider moose to be a horse designed by an engineer. Can you see the "Toyota" label on the butt of the one?

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