I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.

For me they are the role model for being alive.

~ Gilda Radner

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Company!!!!



Stumpy and I live in what's known as "open range." Ranch livestock travel freely throughout the neighborhood and town. It's not unusual to stop for cattle as they cross the road or to see them browsing in the center of town.



My favorite sight, however, are the horses. There is a herd of mustang that travel within this particular range. Glimpses of the mustang are unusual, but not unheard of. The Mustangs from the Cerbat Mountain area of northwestern Arizona are some of the purest Spanish descendants in the United States. You can read more of their history here: http://www.angelfire.com/az/xochitl/Cerbats.html Their numbers are dwindling due to BLM removal, governmental shenanigans and shady loopholes in the law.

Ranch horses,can also been seen and today they spent the afternoon in my "front yard." The horses are turned out to browse thereby saving the ranchers a few bucks in feed. They look healthy and happy. I did notice that most of the horses tails were really short. I thought maybe the tails were caught on cactus, as they swatted flies, and they lost them little by little. I see this particular herd every couple of weeks, usually just passing by, not giving me a chance to take pictures. I've counted 11 in the past, today there were only 8.








Stumpy slept through most of their visit.

10 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Tank woo fur sharing that!

It was khwite interesting to see and read about them!

Stumpy is making me sleepy too!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Oh that is so cool. Horses and cows in your yard.. Stumpy maybe you need to practice your herding skills?

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

Unknown said...

Stumpy that sure is a different kind of wildlife around there. How neat but probably a bit dangerous for me. I'm with you.. I'd stay inside cooling out.
norwood

Life With Dogs said...

Stumpy is my kind of dog! Way to sleep through the excitement! :)

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Come on over Stumpy you can come to the lake with us..

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie

tula monstah said...

Sttuumpy! u missed all the action..the excitement..the wildness.. who am i to talk? i'd do the same thing! zzzzzzz.

tula

Unknown said...

stumpy... yoohooo are you up yet? We have cattle to herd. Okay okay maybe just treat herding today.
norwood

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Khyra, anytime is naptime, that's our motto...well, mine...not Stumpy's.

Heelers, I don't let Stumpy "herd" anything close to the house. When we are out in the desert I let her try her hand at it. The cattle our used to dogs driving them, so they play nice. The horses wouldn't let us get close enough even if I let Stumpy. You can bet if I am ever in Texas again, I will be looking for your lake.

squeak squeak squeak, Norwood...the cattle and horses are tame compared to some of what we see here... Treat herding??? that doesn't sound like it's going to do much forher energy level...

LWD, stumpy is not big on sleeping so when ever she does is good for me...

Tula, she only missed it because I made her miss it.

The Oceanside Animals said...

A place where horses just wander through your front yard? My wife would love that!

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Dennis, for our amusement and pleasure we also have rattlesnakes, tarantulas, scorpians, pretty freaking big monitor lizards, smaller lizards and today some sort of flying bug is raining from the sky(while they are doing the dirty) Pictures soon to be posted.