Mules are 'Horses', too

Hammer, the mule,(at right) and Smokey, the hinney (below).

A hinney is the result of breeding a stallion (horse) to a jenny (donkey). A mule is the opposite: a mare (horse) is bred to a jack (donkey). Both the mule and the hinney are sterile. For the sake of simplicity, both are referred to as 'mules'.

Hammer's dam (mother) was a Tennessee Walking Horse while Smokey's sire (father) was a Paso Fino. Both mules inherited the gaiting ability of their parents.

Just call us nosey neigh--bors...

One Rocky Mtn. Horse (far left), one Caspian (the little guy), & three Spotted Saddle Horses (all five are yearlings) share their curiosity as they jockey for the best position from which to view what is happening in the pasture across the road.

A little over to the right, please...

Ohhhh, that's a really itchy spot & Ahhhhh, that feels so good!!!

Growing up...

Almost two months old now, "Got Milk" (or GM as we call her) is not only growing up & out, she's becoming more independent from Momma & often wanders off by herself.

Flehmen's Response (better known as Horse Laugh)

Flehmen's Response can be triggered by various things, but it is usually triggered by a stallion smelling a mare's scent. Even though he is only a yearling, Buddy's hormones have kicked in & he realizes just exactly what to do!

Twilight

Two Spotted Saddle Horses, one Rocky Mtn. Horse, and a Caspian (all yearlings) prepare to spend the night grazing by the barn. We have a lot of vocal coyotes in this area, but so far haven't had any livestock harmed by them. We are far more afraid of rabid skunks as this area seems to be under a perpetual rabies alert. Then we fear opossums due to the dreaded EPM, short for "Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis" or 'Possum Disease' -- no joke:
http://www.lemen.com/qa142.html

Hay Time

What a busy time of year, culminating in the hay harvest. Unfortunately, my hay harvest was considerably less than the above picture (which is of my neighbor's field). I made the mistake of listening to the Soil & Conservation Dept. advice last year & fertilized with turkey litter. It was considerably more expensive than chemical fertilizer, but I was told that because it was organic, it broke down more slowly, & I wouldn't have to fertilize this year. Obviously, that advice was WRONG as my share of the hay this year was a whopping 10 bales. I'm now praying for rain & sunshine so I can have at least one more cutting!