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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
"Cowboys of the American East."
In his best-selling book, “The Secret Life of Lobsters,” that’s what Trevor Corson called lobstermen.
I’ve been mulling over that phrase for years, contemplating the parallels of cowboys on the range and lobstermen on the water:
- Physical
Strength.
- Acquired wisdom and patience.
- Danger in the form of calculated and unforeseen risks.
- Working with the elements.
And that's just a start!
I was born and raised in Maine. I've been clamming and done plenty of fishing. But I've never been lobstering. That is, not until this summer when my friend, Rick Hollingshead, bowed to my nagging and let me join him.
Rick lobsters the waters of Quahog Bay off Harpswell. He’s been hauling since he was four when he first headed out with his father.
So why should you, Dear Reader, read about lobstering on a horse website??
- Pleasant distraction for the usual inundation of horse material.
- And, oh, those parallels! Cowboys and lobstermen got a lot in common.
- Stay tuned for more in a NickerNews article!
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Monday, July 19, 2010
Some call it a Stud Pile.
Dick Bryzowski, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Agent, calls it the Zone of Repugnance.
Brilliant term, isn't it?
 Either way, it is the area where animals decide they are going to poop. And nothing, from my observations, will change their minds.
This spring I planted wonderful grass seed. I took great care in fencing off the area until it was Good Eatin'.
The three mares have decided their Zone will be right in the midst of the finest new grass.
Across the street at the field, they poop in the most wonderful bed of clover.
What's with them?
Heck if I know!
I'm sure there is some Sixth Horse Poop Sense involved.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
 It was the darnedest thing.
Last summer, I was ponying my four horses to the neighbor’s field every day. Trixie, a little 30-year old Shetland was one of them.
On occasion, I would catch Trixie biting at the belly of the horse I was riding.
What?
This bottom-of-the-totem-pole pony seemed to be taking delicious, vengeful nips at the Top Dog! My horse couldn’t check her, being under my control and all. Trixie knew this, of course.
I got a good chuckle out of this natural and personal opportunism. But I thought it was a unique moment.
 Not so!
This year, Trixie moved to a fine farm and Peppermint Patty moved to my place and replaced her in the pecking order.
Now, I ride Shea and pony Peppermint and another horse to the field.
I caught this clever pony pulling the same move!
Can’t say as I blame them.
If you could diss your local bully without fear of payback, wouldn’t you?
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Saturday, July 10, 2010
 Oo-la-la!
The epitome of high-brow equine couture, we display here the irresistible summer fashion:
Clogs with shorts!
Yes, ladies, it’s trendy yet classic with its roots in utility and eternal style.
We know sandals and flipflops have no place in the barn.
Sneakers are, well, so childish.
Clogs say, “I’m hot. I’m horsey. And proud of it!”
Worn barefoot is best. Adding socks, if you must, will take a significant chunk out of your fashion statement.
But anyway you spin in, nothing says Barn Bombshell like clogs with shorts!
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Thursday, July 08, 2010
I guess I always knew that, but I didn't get to digesting that fact until recently.
Word reached NickerNews of a kill broker, Raymond Tucker, in Kansas who has a rotten operation. Horses are in such terrible condition, they can't be transported to Mexico for slaughter.
That's bad.
Read more at this devoted blog, click here.
The good thing is -- folks are working against animal cruelty everywhere, too. The linked blog has posted contact information for state agencies...sound familiar.
And the power of the Internet can help create an international awareness.
Public outrage, baby.
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Monday, July 05, 2010
Thanks to an astute reader, NickerNews has learned that Brett Ingraham was arrested for terrorizing last month.
According to the Waldo County Sheriff blotter, as published in the Village Soup, Brett was arrested June 22.
No information was given, except his age (34) and hometown (now, Burnham).
We are led to believe that "terrorizing" is a form of bullying, harassment, and/or threatening of violence, but we'll try to get a more precise definition when the state finally returns from holidays.
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