The Gal Pals ride again! Albeit a smaller group, the Fearsome Foursome spent the last week of May riding Big South Fork and East Fork, Tenn.: Mary Ann, Lynn, Toni and I. (We numbered five one day when gal pal Angie rode with us.)
The weather was perfect - perfect because it threatened rain one day, which made us decide to go hiking instead of riding. We had so much fun hiking (and burning off some of the thousands of calories we were consuming) that we decided to make it an annual tradition: the Hiking Day!
The last day at East Fork was the most beautiful ride, and except for me losing Cole's bridle and reins, it was a perfect day - not too sunny, not too hot, not too buggy, with incredible views and a moderately challenging trail (for the horses anyway). How do you lose a bridle, you ask? Well, let's just say, against my initial inclination, I decided to take it off and put a nylon halter on him for the trailer ride back to camp . hung the bridle on the side of the trailer . and the rest is obvious. (Oh, I so hate getting old and absentminded!) At least it was at the end of the last day. I've now repurchased bridle, bit and reins (cha-ching).
I can't help but make a connection here to our cover story on Pet Rescue and Adoption, which I whole-heartedly support and will say why in a minute. While not everyone considers a horse a pet, I do, and it stands mentioning that equine rescue and adoption organizations abound and need your generous heart more than ever these days. If you are considering a trail buddy, a pasture ornament, or even a competition steed, it would be worth your while to look at the area equine rescue organizations before doling out dollars to a breeder. Who and where are they you wonder? Glad you asked; I just happen to have that information right here:
. Dancing Cloud Farm Horse Rescue, (229) 378-5088, www.dcfhr.org
. The Horse Rescue, Rehabilitation and Retirement Fund, (770) 886-5419, www.SavetheHorses.org
. Georgia Equine Rescue League, (800) 282-5852, www.gerlltd.org
. Hidden Springs Horse Rescue, www.floridahorserescue.com
Now, as for humane societies and the like: The Best Dog Who Ever Lived came from "the pound" in Suffolk, Va. Dylan, a German shepherd mix, was my comrade for 17-1/2 years. Never has there been a smarter, calmer, more intuitive, more devoted canine in existence. There. Pound Puppies Rule!
Having said that, I have three purebred dogs now - one with good reason, one by accident and one who was a rescue who took matters into his own, uh, paws. But it is precisely by owning these "designer dogs" (the first in my life), that I can say from firsthand experience, "Pound Puppies Rule!" (Sorry Vinny, Zoe and Gandhi.)
Vinny is the papillon that Paul wanted because he would "fit under the seat in front of us" when travelling to visit family in faraway places. Who knew at 8 weeks old his expected 8- to 10-pound body would turn into 14 pounds? (He no longer fits under any seat. We routinely drag him out from under the bed where he gets stuck going after Zoe.) Papillons are the eighth most intelligent dog in existence, supposedly, and the No. 1 most intelligent of the small breeds. This may be true - he certainly looks intelligent in his expressions - but small breeds are notoriously hard to housebreak and Vinny was no exception.
Then there is Zoe, our Chinese crested that a neighbor/breeder offered to give us as she was "downsizing" her kennel. I came to see in short order why one might want to cull her out of a group of dogs. Let's just say, she is called "Princess Zoe" more often than not, and she absolutely rules the roost at Triple Creek Farm. "Does not play well with others" might be scrawled on her report card. But she loves her humans - is almost unnaturally attached to me, her mama - so of course she is forgiven all of her transgressions against the other four-legged impositions in the house. And, yes, Chinese cresteds are the dogs that typically win the "Ugliest Dog" contests, but look at her picture (above) and tell me she isn't gorgeous, exotic, lovely . in short, a princess.
Our most recent addition to the pack is Gandhi, the Doberman. If you've been a faithful Vintage reader, you know the story of Gandhi. He appeared in our yard last fall, at death's door, a stray, and several hundred dollars later, we have a terrific, very large dog. Even though he is, no doubt, 100 percent Dobie, unlike our other designer dogs he is very easy to train, eager to please, not excitable, etc.
Gandhi's major problem possibly stems from being homeless for an obviously long period of time, but I suspect a lot has to do with his innate character: He's a 90-pound wimp. I mean, everything scares him - the icemaker, the stereo, a door slam, ceiling fans, oscillating fans, a bicycle, an umbrella, etc., ad nauseam . I shouldn't put this in print probably, but he isn't exactly the watchdog he appears to be either (burglars don't read, do they?). The first time the exterminator came to the house he didn't realize he was sharing the back yard with a behemoth beast until he was finished working. At that point, he just petted Gandhi's head and came on inside. Originally Dobermans were bred to be so aggressive, I've read, that a couple of decades ago they started to breed that trait out. I think they can stop now.
So, as much as I love my brood of three designer dogs, I think about Dylan (and smile) and can say without hesitation, "Pound Puppies Rule!"
Now cats are cats wherever they come from - royalty, all of them. I've never had a designer cat, but I've had lots of "domestic shorthairs"; most came from the pound or were given by friends or just dropped out of the sky. Their personalities are as varied as any other creature but they all know their place . at the head of the household. Pound or purebred, the feline mantra is "Dogs Drool, Cat's Rule!" |
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