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As you know from our various pictures, we often hike on the trails of Cataloochee Ranch, our neighbors. We have been asked by a number of commenters how The Herd behaves around the horses. They are immensely curious, but also very respectful.
Because these horses roam free on the 1000 acre ranch and dirt roads run through the ranch, they are very used to people, cars, and animals. Besides, these horses are trained to take tourists on rides throughout the ranch and into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, so they are very calm. Thus, normally, the horses are oblivious to our appearance on their trails.
For some reason, yesterday when we walked up the trail, they became intrigued by us.
We looked up and this Herd - much larger than our own Herd - was watching us intently.
You can tell from this picture that we are not actually in the field (respectful of their home, of course). You can see Cheoah in the right corner.
The Herd says its nice to have neighbors, but they are so big. And there are so many of them.
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I fink Miss Khyra is onto somefing. I’m guessin that like me, those REALLY BIG DOGS love the wit, wisdom and heart touchin stories as much as all the cool pitchers!
That, and I’ll bet you’re really impressive live and in dog!
Just sayin.
Wif love from the Luke
I think your neighbors are beautiful
Wow, that is a big herd watching you guys.
Our last place was next to a horse farm. I’d step into the pasture every once in a while to test my wits – with only four large horses. I’d be content to admire that many from afar. Do your dogs react much when they get close?
That’s cool that those horsies roam free, but amazing, if interested in you guys, that they don’t come closer heheh! Always great photos and places that you all walk – so intriguing!
Hugs xoxoxo
Sammie
I wonder what their Herd is called? Somepup should ask.
Momma’s re-reading an old book called Animal Farm, and she says that horses work for a bunch of clever but evil creatures called pigs.
Beware the march of the pigs!
Sonic
What beautiful horses…how fun to have them so close. 🙂 Good thing they decided not to chase after you…that could have been interesting. 😉
Nala
We have never seen horses. We do have those silly and noisy mini-donkeys up the street. But they run away when they see us coming. Somehow we don’t think that beautiful herd would be afraid of us. Beautiful creatures. Thanks for sharing.
Woos – Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara
Woo, there’s a lot of them! We see them occasionally running on our beach. e get furry excited, but e’re not allowed to get too close. But we like to sniff their pawprints – they leave wonderfully stinky pawprints!
jack a-roo & moo too
(Ha roo roo rooing at what Dennis the Vizsla said…)
I wonder if those guys have a cool Jeep they get to ride in? Probably not.
Play bows,
Zim
I think that’s just how Luxembourg feels …
Mom has taken us by “big dogs” a bunch of times, and I’m fascinated more than anything. Last fall in southern Utah I got to say ‘hi’ up close and personal. (Dad is a horse person from way back, so he knew what he was doing, but also thinks that because dogs and horses were the first domesticated animals that there is some sort of connection almost imprinted in our DNA at this point. I don’t know if that’s true, but I like the ‘big dogs’!)
*kissey face*
-Fiona
I can’t imagine how our dogs would react to so many horses. We once encountered several horseback riders on a trail in DuPont Forest. The girls were totally awed by the really big animals.
Our favorite place to camp in the summer is a State Park with lot’s of horse trails. I am always on alert, but I don’t bark at them. Mister Higgins (my little brother) will probably have a heart attack when he sees his first horse. He’s such a puppy!
Kisses,
Emma Rose
I’m sure that The Herd does not want to tangle with that herd! Cheoah looks like a little coyote down there in the corner of that picture.
I grew up with horses, and I had an Australian Shepard who was just determined to keep them in line. We had a horse named Liberty, who was quite the character. One day they had a disagreement and she picked the dog up by the scruff of her neck, reared up in the air and dropped the dog to the ground. I saw that dog’s life flash before my eyes, but she recovered and got out of the way. She was more determined than ever to get that horse to mind!
WOO Herd that is COOL!!! We saw our first horse a couple weeks ago, someone was riding him in the grassy infield of one of the little parks we run by. huMom was wondering if he could be legally ridden there, we pretty much ignored him, but took great interest in the gifts he left behind.
WOOOOOO woo rar rar rar,
Kayla and Maebe
I’m thinking there must be an Internet khonnekhtion in the stables –
They must subskhribe to The Herd’s blog feed!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
before i knew anything about dogs and horses, when i had the DINGO, we found a place that had 2 horses on our walk. and naturally i wanted to see how the dingo behaved. so i brought her right up to the fence. duh. (dumb me)… she was scared. eventually she would ignore them though. but boy that was too nervey to do for both the dingo and the horses. (doh! smacks self on head.)
it’s cool you can expose them to this herd!