The beautiful scene below was not the danger. Oberon did look twice at a dark crevice and snorted at it before deciding it wouldn't eat him... I stood at a top of a small hill to get the two photos below. The red version of the water surface was played with in PhotoShop and is for "Photo Art Friday". I think it looks a bit like Modern Art...
Do you like this scene better in color or b@w? The photo above is for Weekend Reflections #104 which I will link up to tonight.
The logging tractors were VERY loud, but Oberon seemed to not mind them so much as long as they kept their distance...
The danger came from the water faucet above. I have given Oberon a drink from this bucket a number of times. But as he raised his head from the bucket, his bridle got caught on the blue spout and he PANICKED, backed up and I really didn't have much time to respond before it was all over. Thank goodness his bridle came off easily and he stopped immediately as soon as the pressure was gone. In the blink of an eye, disaster could have taken place! HERE are a few experiences and comments about leaving a halter on while in the paddock or barn. (I never keep a halter on Oberon in the pasture) If I ever use this again, I will pick the bucket up and move it well away.
So, my question is do you keep a halter on your horse in the pasture? Do you feel it is OK to keep a break-a-way halter on in the pasture or paddock? I have read instances when even these types of halters don't work, but I know people who do release them outside with them on. I believe it will be wise for me to send a break-a-way halter to my horse Rudy when he is transported from Illinois to North Carolina.
Safe in his own pasture drinking from the big tank... don't the reflections look like diamonds?
15 comments:
Glad neither you nor the horse was hurt!
Love how your play with your photos. You've created a striking piece of work that does look like an abstract painting.
Thank you for sharing your talents with Photo Art Friday Margaret!
I am glad that he was not hurt!
I really like the color photo. The greens are so pretty!
Wow, I would never have known - it does look like a beautiful abstract.
So much to look at here and all of it is just wonderful. The red surface of the water photo is like an abstract painting and so unique.
Love the 2 views of the pond but prefer the colored version.
I do not leave halters on my horses. For all the same reasons listed in the link you provided in your post.
When I was a kid, we used to tie out my pony to eat the grass down in our yard. One time I noticed that he wasn't moving much. Just kinda frozen. I went to check on him and he had one of his front hooves stuck inside the chin part of his halter. How he knew not to panic amazed me!!! He just stood perfectly still until I came to help him. I learned a valuable lesson about halters that day!!!
Even if we get a horse that needs some training to accept being haltered, we take the halter off and do the training!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your photos!!!!!!!
Great post!
The first image is very dramatic with those bold red swirls. The scenic view is beautiful - I think I like all the greens in the color version.
Glad disaster was averted for Oberon!
Your photos are all so nice. I think I like the color scene better than the black and white, but only because of the way it's cropped - I like the water reflections in the color. And your big oak trees remind me of my time spend in New Orleans. Beautiful trees.
I don't ever turn horses out with halters on. I don't think there should be a need for it - if a horse is hard to catch the owner has some work to do to fix the situation - a halter is not the answer.
But I have a big "but"... I adopt mustangs and bring them home with halters and drag ropes on. Not breakaway. We haul them home in an open trailer with nothing to get caught on. I put them in a small gentling pen where it's highly unlikely they will get hung up. And the halters are snug, so they can't get a foot caught when they scratch their heads. I get them gentled ASAP and the halter comes off. I also kept a halter on my mares at foaling time the two times I've had them foal (not bred by me, I'm not a breeder) in case I needed a handle on them if there was an emergency. I did that because of the advice of an experienced breeder, but I didn't need the halter. Both mares did fine.
I'm glad Oberon is such a sensible horse! I think most horses would react to a situation like that, but not all would stop and stand and keep you safe. What a good boy!
I like the color version of this photo, although I love balck and white photography. Your photos are beautiful.
Scary incident with the tap. You just can't think of everything, but at least Oberon was a very good boy. As to your question, I never leave halters on, whether turned out or in the stall.
This place is a dream for horses... and humans if they love nature ! Very nice reflection too. I love the color one better, but the black and white is also very pretty.
Great photos and beautiful reflections! The artistic red one has such an air of mystery about it. I think it would make an interesting book cover.
That's a really cool editing effect. It's definitely a great piece of art. Your other photos of the lake and horse are beautiful.
Kathy
Horses will find a way to send us into a panic, won't they? I'm glad he was sensible about it and didn't get hurt.
I never leave halters on my horses during turnout. My horses are very easy to catch, so there's no reason to leave them haltered.
Beautiful pictures as always!
Unless a horse is difficult to catch their is no reason for leaving a halter on in the paddock or the stable.
I sure am learning a lot about horses through this blog, Margaret. Wow. So many things to think about and keep track of. It sounds like you sure know what you're doing!
Ginnie - not so sure I know what I'm doing, but it looks like I have wonderful sources to go to!
Thanks everyone, for your input and comments! I really do swirl them all around in my brain. :)
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