Earthly Equine Evolution

[labelwench]

The link below takes you to a selection of pictures that may well be the world's smallest foal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/ne...00/8645830.stm

The following link to a five question pop quiz on horses, lol....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/ne...00/3709196.stm

[labelwench]

My thoughts have begun to drift toward the naming of the foal, should all go as hoped and planned for.

The name will come at the appropriate time, as ever it does, often in response to some attribute of form or personality, and need not necessarily be distinctly 'male' or 'female'.

One time, I purchased a registered QH filly from a cowboy in Alberta, and as the breeder, it was his privilege to name her. She was of Doc Bar bloodlines, and he asked the name of my stable that he might combine various elements in the naming.

Somehow, he arrived at Pineridge Princess for her name, my stable being called Pineland Stables at the time.

As a teenager, I would have delighted in such chivalric title for my mount. As a woman, it seemed a mite ostentatious, lol....so I gave her the stable or call name of 'Charlie', which is the name of my natural father, also the breeder of the filly, and the name of the perfume which I wore at that time.

'Charlie' became well known as 'the bowing horse', a little trick that I trained her, and which she would then perform when receiving her awards at the various shows in which we participated. She loved the applause, and on more than one occasion, she would seemingly smile, and then bow repeatedly, for no other reward than the appreciation of her audience. She was a fine mare, since passed on, but her memory will ever bring a smile to the face of those who knew her.

[labelwench]

From the perspective of equine evolution, there perhaps is no greater example of a 'man-made breed' than the Falabella. Originally developed in Argentina, beginning in 1868 with the breeding program of Patrick Newall, local Criollo stock was mixed with Welsh, Shetland and Thoroughbred, by selecting for small size and establishing these traits through selected and intensive in-breeding. Despite it's small size, the Falabella is considered a miniature horse, as it was bred for the proportions of the horse, on this small scale.

A breed registry was formed in the 1940s and the original standard was for stock that stood under 40" at the withers, and that standard has evolved downward since that time, with today's desirable height of 30 inches being the current breed standard.

One of my former boarders brought two miniature horses to the stable. One was an over-sized gelding and so was not registered, while the other was a registered mare, although of pet quality rather than breeding standard. Both animals were delightful characters and I was training the over-sized one to drive during it's tenure at my stable. My friend was also into rehabilitation and therapy for the disabled, and she took the miniature horses to visit persons who were shut-in at our local facilities.

The Falabella is considerably long lived and remains fertile until a more advanced age than most horse, possibly a characteristic that is related to the pony genetics in it's background. LW

Characteristics

Average breed heights for a fully-grown Falabella today are between 28 and 34 inches. The breed is proportioned similarly to horses, other than in size. They are similar to Thoroughbreds or Arabs in their conformation, with a sleek coat and a slim frame. The Falabella’s body is small and compact. The breed also inherited some cob-like features from pony bloodlines, including sturdy bone, and a thicker hair coat, particularly the mane, tail and around the fetlocks. The head may be slightly larger and the neck is often stouter by comparison with a normal-sized horse, but overall, the animal is not unusually or abnormally proportioned.

Bay (or a variant of bay, called "brown") and black are the most common colors, but there are also pintos, palominos and other spotting patterns found. Black or red leopard-spotted Falabellas (resembling, but not the same as the Appaloosa horse breed) also exist, but are not common.

Falabella foals are very small, standing eight inches tall at birth, and mature to their adult height by the age of two. They are considered very hardy and consistently pass on size, conformation and temperament.

[RascalPuff]

A a classic western - the Outlaws, instrumental:

Ghost Riders in the Sky: Guitar Cover, The ... [IMG]linkscanner://safe.gif/[/IMG]
7 min - Aug 24, 2009
www.youtube.com

[labelwench]

Charlotte Church - The Little Horses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRRSl...eature=related

Day 332 and the mare is shaping up. Any day now .......

[RascalPuff]

Dear LW - here's hoping the weather gets better for you, Madeline and Handyman, and, that you all appreciate the pen and ink drawings for the inspiring if lazy occasion.... : )

www.videowired.com/video/1314487355/

: )

[labelwench]

When I hit the sheets yesterday, I was down for the count, lol. Madelaine and Handy were safe in the barn and Caramel and Kinnick likewise had been set up with extra rations, as I suspected I might be out, like the proverbial light. Sure enough, Madelaine was ravenous this morning, and Handy was attached to the milk bar like a barnacle to ship's bottom. It took him a moment to realize that I was in the barn with them, and then he immediately came over, made little 'gummy faces' as respect for my 'lead mare' status, and presented himself for inspection, thereafter expressing curiosity in the halter and rope which I had placed on his mother.

He quickly hopped over the barn threshold and followed obedient when she called him, when I moved them both to the outdoor pen, so that Madelaine can continue with his teaching. The mare is now having a 'dine and dash' breakfast, as she grabs a mouthful of feed from the pan, and then rushes off after the playful colt, who has now discovered how to kick up his hind legs while moving at speed, lol. He is very good on his feet, for one so young, and I haven't seen him collide with the fence or go down from loss of traction yet, although today might be the day, as he is beginning to get adventurous and creative in combining his moves. Here are some pictures, taken yesterday, his first look at the outside world in daylight.





The early morning snowfall was quickly assimilated by the thirsty landscape, now just awaiting the sun and some warmth, so that spring may arrive. Leaves here, don't often come about before the second to third week in May, although the Crocus should appear as soon as we get some sun, quick as they are. Our northern equivalent of the snowdrop, or almost so.

[RascalPuff]

Molly is a champion retriever Irish Water Spaniel I share your pictures and text with. She saluted with a subdued 'Woof', in reconnoitering approval of Madelaine and her new charge. Says she doesn't guess you have to worry about having her born like a thoroughbred, on January 1st. (HeeHaw) - Molly Keyboard talking, always appears in parentheses, as compared to anything I might scribble out of parentheses. (I probly never will whicker or whinney with your studied vocabulary and pronunciation. HeeHaw? One Trick Pony here? )

Probly choiring to the Preacher here, whereas, your naming of Handyman - because he seemed to be checking out the fences shortly after arrival - is a Native American idiosyncrisy, as you are likely well aware. (Guess the Prof is benevolently unaware that you're a talking, bipedal equus, until further mane shaking, quadruped notice; there being no such thing as only humanly being 'around horses too much'?)
Gotta gander at Google's 30 top giddy'ups - a rich, quasi-thoroughbred vein of rhythmic clippety cloppity...
http://www.alove4horses.com/horse-songs/


Very happy for you, particularly with the advent of your new Spring season and freshly blooming flora. : )

[labelwench]

A wonderful link, Kai, as it has many of the fine songs about horses compiled thereon. Saves a lot of chasing around in cyberspace, lol.....

You are quite correct in your perception of me. I am disguised as a human, yet perhaps, for those who believe in Karma and rebirth, I may have been a horse in a former manifestation.

As for spending too much time with horses, I may consider that possibility when there is nothing more to learn about them, an event which seems unlikely in the short time that our biology is able to maintain physical form upon this plane.

Yesterday, I observed that Madelaine kept gently nibbling on the foal's ears when he was trying to rest, having quite exhausted himself with the discovery of 'gallop'. She is the most experienced mare I have owned in regard of the time she has spent in a natural herd setting, out on pasture, with the seasons and other mares and foals around her. As mentioned earlier, she was the den mother for a dozen other weanlings, yearlings and two year olds when I purchased her.

Therefore, I had never witnessed this ear nibbling and wondered at it's purpose. Finally, I observed the pattern of when she was doing this act. Whenever the foal would try to lay flat-out, she would apply this treatment, until he was rolled back over onto his sternum, yet still comfortably recumbent.

Of course. How simple! She is teaching him that even at rest, a prey species must be ever vigilant against danger. From the sternum position, a horse may rise quickly to flee, whereas if fully laid out, it takes very little pressure to disallow the horse from rising. By kneeling on the neck of an adult horse, even a human, with proper knowledge and a modicum of strength, can render it unable to rise.

[RascalPuff]

"As for spending too much time with horses, I may consider that possibility when there is nothing more to learn about them, an event which seems unlikely in the short time that our biology is able to maintain physical form upon this plane.

Yesterday, I observed that Madelaine kept gently nibbling on the foal's ears when he was trying to rest, having quite exhausted himself with the discovery of 'gallop'. She is the most experienced mare I have owned in regard of the time she has spent in a natural herd setting, out on pasture, with the seasons and other mares and foals around her. As mentioned earlier, she was the den mother for a dozen other weanlings, yearlings and two year olds when I purchased her.

Therefore, I had never witnessed this ear nibbling and wondered at it's purpose. Finally, I observed the pattern of when she was doing this act. Whenever the foal would try to lay flat-out, she would apply this treatment, until he was rolled back over onto his sternum, yet still comfortably recumbent.

Of course. How simple! She is teaching him that even at rest, a prey species must be ever vigilant against danger. From the sternum position, a horse may rise quickly to flee, whereas if fully laid out, it takes very little pressure to disallow the horse from rising. By kneeling on the neck of an adult horse, even a human, with proper knowledge and a modicum of strength, can render it unable to rise."

Molly and I were inspired to do a llittle research on what we vaguely recalled about the differences and similiarities in the habits and habitats of the equus and bovine species...
It seems for the most part that the equus derivation has a background of 'grasslands' environment' - plains, steppes, and, the bovine (auroch) species has a wooded/arboreal background - forests bushes... Whereas, in order to visually accomodate yer environment most efficiently in a grassland/ plains/steppes environment, you go for altitude with your visual sensories, so you can see the furthest most expediently...

Whereas, in a wooded enviornment you (generally) can see better when yer visuals are near the ground...

All of this is to suggest that the reasons the cows get up flanks first from a prone posture is so they can maintain a reconnaissance of and beneath the under and overgrowth for the longest period of time as they upright themselves...
Whereas, the horses rise up from a prone position, headfirst, is because, generally, they can see better (more expediently) from a higher perspective (in a sea of grass and all that).

Albeit, I'm not sure of the tenability of these suggestions, I think I read it somewheres... Molly sniffed it out I think... (I read a lot?)

Anyway, it is your astute and uncanny equine nature that invoked and evoked this inspiration and explanation from Truly Yours.
(I am trying to restrain your applause?)
((HeeHaw?))....

(Do you have a mobile lap top type computer you might give Madelaine a gander of herself with her foal and see what she thinks of that? Dogs don't usually recognise their own image, but then I'm not sure of that either... : )