PEAR TREE LOG

pear tree log: I started this blog to keep my younger son, Jonny, in touch with life in Lincolnshire, while he spent a year working in China. That year turned into five! Now he is home and training to become a physics teacher. This is simply a patchwork quilt of some of the things I enjoy - life in rural Lincolnshire, our animals, friends, architecture, books, the gardens, and things of passing interest.



Saturday, 23 February 2013

Horses Have Fun

I left the main roads behind and took the quiet country roads back home.

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There were alpacas in one field and just along the road there were horses... not just any old horses -  these were sleek and handsome dressage horses,  well wrapped against the cold of the day in their smart coats.
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Big, small, sleek, or rough, I love horses  ...  although I must confess a particular fondness for 'cart' horses, heavy horses, and rough ponies.
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What caught my eye this afternoon was a group of three horses.      They were by themselves, in a large paddock on the hill, this was a horse to horse moment.   Two were standing watching, while one appeared to be performing, as though in the dressage ring.

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I watched them for a while, then drove on,  pondering on the question of whether horses play and have fun, or do they worry about things.

Was the 'performing' horse running through a particularly tricky exercise, trying to get it right?
Was it showing the others a manoeuvre it really enjoys doing?
Or could it simply have been having fun or showing off?    I'd love to think so.


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Before I knew it I was back home and there were groceries to unload, logs to be fetched, hens needing a hot mash, and a sick husband to tend.

Back to the real world.

I took Toby to visit our neighbour,  Arnold.   A sweet old horse, enjoying his retirement.   He knows how to have fun.

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17 comments:

  1. Jan23 February 2013 at 12:35

    I think horses really know how to be playful. They have huge characters!! Jx

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  2. Catherine23 February 2013 at 13:03

    Interesting question - I hope they do, otherwise their lives could be pretty bleak.

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  3. Amy Burzese23 February 2013 at 14:11

    I think they do. You've got some evidence here. Great!

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  4. Jenny23 February 2013 at 14:26

    Horses know how to fun at our expense - watch them in a field when they don't want to be caught. They'll let you approach until you can almost touch them, and then they'll trot away but just a little way off so that you still have hope of catching them. They know exactly what they're doing and I'm sure are having a hearty horse chuckle at our frustration. They certainly play - running and bucking, and sometimes nipping each other. I also love the gentle work horses and find ponies wonderful.Toby and Arnold are obviously the best of buddies.

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  5. Jane and Chris23 February 2013 at 14:50

    Oh, yes, horses play and have fun...they also grieve.
    My prof had a horse who refused to eat after it's field mate died,it became sulky and a bit nasty .We don't give animals enough credit do we?
    Jane x

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  6. Joanne Noragon23 February 2013 at 15:34

    I don't know horses, but they must have fun on their own time. I wonder what they say to each other when they are working together.

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  7. Ms Sparrow23 February 2013 at 16:40

    It really makes you wonder what the horse going through the paces was thinking, doesn't it? I would like to think it was showing off and liked that it knew something the others didn't! Nice to see the photo of Arnold and Toby together.

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  8. Susan Heather23 February 2013 at 19:27

    Hope your hubby is better soon.

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  9. ~Lavender Dreamer~24 February 2013 at 01:23

    You had a wonderful outing and took some amazing photos! I love that field of yellow flowers!

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  10. Susan24 February 2013 at 03:02

    I love your day and the wonderment of horse play! I would like to think all animals have this characteristic, XOXO

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  11. Lynne24 February 2013 at 04:04

    I think each animal has their playful spirit, even horses. I really like your new header. I hope your husband feels better soon!

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  12. Cro Magnon24 February 2013 at 05:44

    I love Shires, Percherons, etc. But I cannot, for the life of me, understand why people have Llamas or Alpacas. It seems to be a modern obsession!

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  13. Meggie24 February 2013 at 13:01

    Oh, yes, my dear friend....horses do have fun! I've owned several over the years. My beloved peruvian paso would perk up and prance around when he saw me get the saddle out. That was when the fun began. Love the new header photo...

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  14. Unknown24 February 2013 at 20:33

    They most definitely play, at least the ones at the barn do. I even managed to catch some by camera -- I'll post some soon. Some are more playful than others. The barn manager has to put everything up including the mounting block because the more playful ones will find ways to make a game of anything they can toss or pick up. One or two horses (usually the Arabians) will instigate a herd (10-15) run around the 30+ acre pasture -- breathless sight and I usually don't have my camera.

    Janet

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  15. A Colorful World26 February 2013 at 01:37

    I love draft horses too...Morgans and Clydesdales. This was so neat...you saw different kinds of horses on your journey home and were able to photograph them and remind us that we should wonder about them as well (what they are thinking; if they like to have fun)The photo of the draft horse running was wonderful! Great post.

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  16. A Colorful World26 February 2013 at 01:37

    I forgot to say I LOVE your new header picture! So cheerful!

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  17. Gerda28 February 2013 at 00:16

    Yeah, horses do know how to have fun! Nowadays I'm fond of alpaca's, I love to spin their fleece, so soft. And they have such beautiful eyes! Groetjes, Gerda

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