Note: Some of you may have already received this entry's first addition but it did not contain the YouTube of Tanya, the porcupine. This one does. Apologies!
Witnessing Some Upper Level Tests and
on to Training Level Test Three
With Elementa contentedly munching hay, I walked over to the far ring to watch some upper-level Prix Saint George tests. Some of the rides were lovely and accomplished but others, well, not so much. Two horses were obviously miserable. Their riders weren't experienced enough to have good balance and rode their horses off their double bridles, not off their seats. The series of flying changes flew all over, hindquarters flung one way then the other. These amateur riders, I thought, should be getting more experience at lower levels.
A number of riders fly to Europe to purchase an upper-level dressage horse. The price for a truly competitive horse
is tens of thousands of dollars, often higher. It's rumored that Totilas, the most extraordinary and talented dressage horse ever produced, fetched twenty million.
What's wrong with someone buying such a highly-trained horse? After all, isn't the old adage, "advanced horses for green riders, green horses for advanced riders"? Yes, the best way to learn dressage is on a horse who already knows the movements. But a rider must learn the basics as well. If you see something terribly wrong in a horse's performance in the upper-levels, it's most likely a problem with the basics. However, if you have a conscientious and talented trainer working with you, this arrangement of a horse more trained than its rider can and does work to the horse--and rider's--benefit. I saw numerous examples of this at Jane Karol's Bear Spot Farm here in nearby Concord. The owners would have regular lessons and enter their horses at lower levels. Jane would continue to ride and sometimes compete these horses herself at higher levels. I had this experience with my Andalusian gelding Navarro. I would take lessons with Jane, she would school Navarro, and sometimes we'd go to shows. It was a happy combination for everyone.
However, some owners think that because they've bought a horse with all the bells and whistles they can sail right by the basics and get to the good upper-level stuff quickly. What is at the root of this increasing problem? Surely, money plays a large part. The sale of an advanced horse means big bucks, not only to his former owner but also to the buyer's trainer, who often gets a commission. Sometimes it's just an ego-driven mistake in which both horse and rider lose. Sometimes an owner will just keep changing trainers until she finds the one who recognizes her "skills" and supports her entering higher tests. I'm happy to report that one upper-level horse I saw at UNH when ridden poorly voted with his feet. He simply stopped his test and refused to go forward. The rider had no choice but to excuse herself and leave the ring. Good for that horse, I say.
What's to be done? Other than receiving accurately abysmal scores from the judge, which one would hope would inform the rider that she has major problems, not very much. At one point there was an attempt to compel riders themselves to qualify in order to rise up through the levels, but that sadly fell by the wayside.
Which brings me back to my own little training level horse and our own little and not-so-little issues:
Elementa/ Training Level 3
Here we are performing our second and last test of the day, Training Level Three, marginally more difficult than Training Level Two. Where's my jacket, you ask? Unbeknown to me, earlier in the day jackets had been waived due to the heat but I had mine on in the first test. My one consolation is this: had I not had my coat on I wouldn't have had a pocket for that cursed hairnet and bobby pins (see previous blog entry). Though far more relaxed than earlier that day, Elementa, thought halting at X wasn't the thing to do at the time. Why should she? After all, she didn't see any letter 'X' and she was sure I didn't either. Anyway, her eyes had latched onto the attractive grey in the next ring that she was sure was my Andalusian mare Tica, her pasture mate. I couldn't get her to stand still so that I could salute the judge. I finally gave up and saluted anyway. The judge, this time Cindy Canace, didn't return my salute, hoping I'd get my halt. Not a chance: we received a paltry "3" out of "10" for failing to establish the halt.
Despite that, we managed a 60.6. As was the case with judge Dee Loveless, Cindy Canace's remarks were informed, helpful, and supportive. Her "further remarks" read:
"Elegant horse and balanced rider, but horse must learn to self-reach into the bridle. Often curls behind the connection to avoid making honest connection."
Yep, curling and dropping behind the vertical is an evasion that riders of Andalusians, Lusitanos, and Fresians know all too well. Though she is but half-Andalusian, concerning this behavior Elementa seems to listen exclusively to her Spanish half. To avoid straightness she evades my influence by curling behind the vertical. In other words, she drops her chin towards her chest so that I lose rein contact with her mouth. However, with more strength training for her and clearer signals from me, we're getting better, slowly but surely.
This season Elementa and I have been to six shows, two recognized and four schooling. She's getting stronger and more confident with each one. I entered a total of twelve tests, recognized and schooling, and achieved a score average of 64.8%, so I was happy. I hope to manage two more shows before Mother Nature closes out the season in the northeast. I only hope the snow gods will be gentler this year. Riding through twenty inches of snow is not my idea of a fun equestrian sport. My horses agree.
Next season I hope to come out at First Level and to perform a Training Level Musical Freestyle. I've chosen our music and know the BPMs (beats per minute) of Elementa's gaits. Now on to choreography!
Have You Given Porcupines Much Thought?
Well, I hadn't, other than to associate them with the poor dogs who had the misfortune to meet them up close and personal, with the resulting agony of having their many quills pulled out, one by one, by their owners or vet. But we need to get to Lulu by way of this gorgeous fellow. Meet Samson:
Samson, Canada Lynx Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2012
I met this tufted feline, a Canada Lynx, in my veterinarian's waiting room (our cat in tow for annual shots). We enjoy a parrot at home, so we need a vet licensed to treat exotics, but until Samson I'd only encountered a variety of parrots at his office. There Samson was, smack in the middle of the waiting room in the biggest crate I'd ever seen. His human friends were Ed Laquidara and Brian Miller of Animal Adventures, an educational and exotic rescue center located in Bolton, Massachusetts, just two towns away. I'd seen their van once or twice but didn't know anything about them.
Now I can say that I've scratched the head of a lynx. Being a professional photographer and animal lover, I asked if I could come and take pictures of Samson and any other creatures they'd like. I wouldn't charge but only ask that I be able to maintain the copyright. Ed told me they did, indeed, need more pictures of Samson, as well as a few more for some of the other residents, including Lulu, their porcupine. And so we made arrangements, but before I tell you about my extraordinary visit, a word about the reclusive and elusive Canada Lynx.
Due primarily to habitat degradation, it's estimated that fewer than one thousand Canada Lynxes survive in the lower forty-eight of United States. They used to inhabit sixteen of our northern states but now are found in only three. This is a high altitude creature who thrives in mountains on a diet primarily of snowshoe hares. A lynx can spot a mouse at 250 feet and has excellent hearing. Their great, round paws serve as snow shoes.
They are a threatened species, so you cannot hunt Canada Lynx in the lower forty-eight, but you certainly may in Alaska and Canada. One lodge in British Columbia charges $6000 to go on a seven-day lynx hunt and, of course, you get the pelt. You can sign up to get a cougar, but that will cost you $8500. Additionally, there's a wonderful seven-day trap-line offering that features an ever changing smorgasbord of animals. You might come up with a lynx, a bobcat, a marten, a beaver or any combination of them. Ah, the genuine thrill of coming across an animal that died a lingering death because of a metal vice clamped down on one of its legs!
But hold on, there might be an even a greater thrill. The creature--a lynx or bobcat, hopefully--might still be alive, so you can witness its terror and futile, tortured attempts to free itself. Canadian law requires that trap sets be checked at least once every five days. So, if you're there at the four or five day mark, you could get to see an animal barely able lift its head, its grand ferocity diminished by four days of hunger, thirst, and the pain of a hideously torn up leg. Since, you, the paying guest, are the very reason that the animal is languishing before you, think of the rush to which you're entitled. In the long run it's much cheaper than cocaine or heroin. As in the case with many serial killers--Jeffrey Dahmer springs to mind--you get to keep a portion of your hunt as a trophy. This permits you to brag to others, and to re-experience the event time and again.
What, you say, you are hopelessly urban and drawn only to gentrified metropolitan life? Well, purveyors of lynx fur have something for you, too. Wearing a lynx coat is a great statement about who you are and what you value. On the Internet I found that a new, Dior full-length lynx coat can be had for twelve thousand, a run-of-the mill second hand one goes for a paltry eight thousand. Take a look on the web and tell me who looks better, the female human stick wearing one, or Samson. You know who has my vote.
And then some people like to have lynxes as pets. A charming little lynx kitten can be had for $1,700. It's recommended that if you plan on having a dog or cat that they be at your domicile by the time your new kitten arrives, so that they can bond. Otherwise, you might later kiss that dog and domestic cat au revoir. I read a number of testimonials by lynx owners and saw many pictures of what seemed true friendship between lynxes, cats, dogs, and humans. Still, I'm not convinced that it's in the best interest of anyone to have such a large wild creature in a domestic setting. You'll see what I mean when you watch this YouTube:
Fortunately, there are such educational places as Animal Adventures, where great care is taken to ensure the physical and mental health of animals such as Samson. Here's a shot of a contemplative "Sammy," as he's known to friends.
Samson Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
While I'm on the subject of fur as fashion, please meet another cherished resident of Animal Adventures, the beautiful Sheeba:
Sheba Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
Sheeba is what's known as a ranch fox. Does that mean she was once the esteemed guest of the Ponderosa or King Ranch in Texas? Nope. It doesn't even mean that she lives on a ranch filled with many foxes. What it means is this: she lived in a crate by herself, or in a pen with three our four other foxes. Foxes are choosy about their companions, and to make it to first base with one the first requirement is that you be a fox. Foxes are afraid of humans. And in these miserable cages there is no place to run and certainly no place to hide. Many of these foxes go nuts in this artificial and cruel environment. They often engage in neurotic behaviors, the worst of which is cannibalism. This becomes a problem for their jailers because a damaged pelt is not the desired end-product.
At least ranch foxes don't have to endure this tortured incarceration for long. At the age of nine months, when their fur is at its most luxurious, and when they are nearly the size of a full-grown adult, a wire is attached to their anus. And they are electrocuted. Someone intervened on Sheeba's behalf. She now resides in a large yard with this gorgeous red fox. Meet Isaac.
Red Fox Isaac Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
Isaac found his way to Animal Adventures by way of a human who thought keeping him as a pet was a bright idea. It wasn't. Foxes mark their territory with urine that smells akin to skunks. I once went into an empty little cottage where a vixen and her seven kits had set up shop in a crawl space underneath the floor boards. The stench was horrendous. Also, foxes are playfully destructive. If you allow them into your home you can kiss all soft furnishings--mattresses, chairs, sofa cushions, and pillows--good-bye. A third reason not to have a fox as a pet is that a fox really doesn't want to be your pet. If you want to enjoy the company of a fox, you should locate a den and spend many hours sitting quietly nearby. At the very least, the fox will eventually determine that you're a fairly benign part of their landscape, and you will be rewarded.
Here's a shot of five of the seven darling, curious, but odiferous critters that lived under the cottage:
Fox Kits/Tyler Cottage Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
Looking as if she'd just stepped out of a fairy tale, Mama Vixen appeared just minutes later:
Mystical MV Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
A gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, an exhilaration of larks, a herd of horses, a pride of lions, a colony of ants, a court of kangaroos--those are the group names of the aforementioned. What are foxes called? A skulk. That's neither nice nor accurate. Skulk implies that a certain hunting behavior is evil or cowardly. The playful little kits didn't skulk and neither did their hard-working mother. She hunted but she did not skulk. A farmer may project evil intent on an animal that can quickly decimate livestock, but a fox doesn't think its hunting behaviors are evil. They are just doing their best for themselves and their family. So how about a fiesta of foxes? That's what you'll see when you encounter a family of foxes that either doesn't know or doesn't mind that you're watching.
Isaac/Red Fox Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
Poor Isaac didn't want to be someone's pet, but I don't know his
whole story. No doubt his life was saved. If he could communicate and understand what had happened to him--and what could have happened--would he have chosen his current situation? I don't know, of course. He's much shyer and wilder than Sheeba,
who let me scratch her ears and took an egg, kindly supplied by Brian, from my hand. Isaac came out of his den only to see what I
was up to, and I was sure he wanted me gone. I did manage to use my telephoto to get a few decent shots,
but Isaac didn't like the click of my camera, and I was sorry to
have caused him stress.
Finally, here is the enchanting and winsome Lulu:
Lulu Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
Not until I met Lulu did I understand how adorable porcupines are. Of course, to get to know them you require a pair of good, thick gloves. Here is Lulu enjoying a grape supplied by her handler and friend Calvin:
Lulu eating a grape Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
Requesting yet another:
Lulu wants another grape Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
With friend Calvin:
Lulu and Calvin Ainslie Sheridan copyright 2013
Such still shots can give you only some idea of these wonderful rodents and the true affection Lulu expressed in Calvin's arms. So, I found this YouTube for you:
http://youtu.be/U5I5H7EeC8k http://youtu.be/U5I5H7EeC8k
Here are a few miscellaneous facts about porcupines you might find interesting. It was long thought that porcupines had cornered the market on rodent longevity. In zoos some have made it to twenty. However, it was recently discovered that the naked vole rat takes the title with an ability to live thirty years.
Baby porcupines are called porcupettes . A group of porcupines is called a prickle.
There are numerous other wonderful animals at Animal Adventures, so if you find yourself in the Boston area have a visit.
If you live in the Boston area have them to your school. They'll bring all sorts of reptiles that kids just love.
In a few days I'm off to Montana with my husband to visit my son Alec, his terrific dog Digby, a Staffordshire terrier and former resident of Yonkers Animal Shelter in New York. I'm taking my camera and will be on the lookout for another elusive creature, a wild mustang. That will take a lot of luck.
Talk with you soon, and thank you for reading The Windflower Weekly:
Ainslie
Sources:
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004725.html
Links:
http://www.rubysvoiceequine.com/index.asp
Witnessing Some Upper Level Tests and
on to Training Level Test Three
With Elementa contentedly munching hay, I walked over to the far ring to watch some upper-level Prix Saint George tests. Some of the rides were lovely and accomplished but others, well, not so much. Two horses were obviously miserable. Their riders weren't experienced enough to have good balance and rode their horses off their double bridles, not off their seats. The series of flying changes flew all over, hindquarters flung one way then the other. These amateur riders, I thought, should be getting more experience at lower levels.
A number of riders fly to Europe to purchase an upper-level dressage horse. The price for a truly competitive horse
is tens of thousands of dollars, often higher. It's rumored that Totilas, the most extraordinary and talented dressage horse ever produced, fetched twenty million.
What's wrong with someone buying such a highly-trained horse? After all, isn't the old adage, "advanced horses for green riders, green horses for advanced riders"? Yes, the best way to learn dressage is on a horse who already knows the movements. But a rider must learn the basics as well. If you see something terribly wrong in a horse's performance in the upper-levels, it's most likely a problem with the basics. However, if you have a conscientious and talented trainer working with you, this arrangement of a horse more trained than its rider can and does work to the horse--and rider's--benefit. I saw numerous examples of this at Jane Karol's Bear Spot Farm here in nearby Concord. The owners would have regular lessons and enter their horses at lower levels. Jane would continue to ride and sometimes compete these horses herself at higher levels. I had this experience with my Andalusian gelding Navarro. I would take lessons with Jane, she would school Navarro, and sometimes we'd go to shows. It was a happy combination for everyone.
However, some owners think that because they've bought a horse with all the bells and whistles they can sail right by the basics and get to the good upper-level stuff quickly. What is at the root of this increasing problem? Surely, money plays a large part. The sale of an advanced horse means big bucks, not only to his former owner but also to the buyer's trainer, who often gets a commission. Sometimes it's just an ego-driven mistake in which both horse and rider lose. Sometimes an owner will just keep changing trainers until she finds the one who recognizes her "skills" and supports her entering higher tests. I'm happy to report that one upper-level horse I saw at UNH when ridden poorly voted with his feet. He simply stopped his test and refused to go forward. The rider had no choice but to excuse herself and leave the ring. Good for that horse, I say.
What's to be done? Other than receiving accurately abysmal scores from the judge, which one would hope would inform the rider that she has major problems, not very much. At one point there was an attempt to compel riders themselves to qualify in order to rise up through the levels, but that sadly fell by the wayside.
Which brings me back to my own little training level horse and our own little and not-so-little issues:
Here we are performing our second and last test of the day, Training Level Three, marginally more difficult than Training Level Two. Where's my jacket, you ask? Unbeknown to me, earlier in the day jackets had been waived due to the heat but I had mine on in the first test. My one consolation is this: had I not had my coat on I wouldn't have had a pocket for that cursed hairnet and bobby pins (see previous blog entry). Though far more relaxed than earlier that day, Elementa, thought halting at X wasn't the thing to do at the time. Why should she? After all, she didn't see any letter 'X' and she was sure I didn't either. Anyway, her eyes had latched onto the attractive grey in the next ring that she was sure was my Andalusian mare Tica, her pasture mate. I couldn't get her to stand still so that I could salute the judge. I finally gave up and saluted anyway. The judge, this time Cindy Canace, didn't return my salute, hoping I'd get my halt. Not a chance: we received a paltry "3" out of "10" for failing to establish the halt.
Despite that, we managed a 60.6. As was the case with judge Dee Loveless, Cindy Canace's remarks were informed, helpful, and supportive. Her "further remarks" read:
"Elegant horse and balanced rider, but horse must learn to self-reach into the bridle. Often curls behind the connection to avoid making honest connection."
Yep, curling and dropping behind the vertical is an evasion that riders of Andalusians, Lusitanos, and Fresians know all too well. Though she is but half-Andalusian, concerning this behavior Elementa seems to listen exclusively to her Spanish half. To avoid straightness she evades my influence by curling behind the vertical. In other words, she drops her chin towards her chest so that I lose rein contact with her mouth. However, with more strength training for her and clearer signals from me, we're getting better, slowly but surely.
This season Elementa and I have been to six shows, two recognized and four schooling. She's getting stronger and more confident with each one. I entered a total of twelve tests, recognized and schooling, and achieved a score average of 64.8%, so I was happy. I hope to manage two more shows before Mother Nature closes out the season in the northeast. I only hope the snow gods will be gentler this year. Riding through twenty inches of snow is not my idea of a fun equestrian sport. My horses agree.
Next season I hope to come out at First Level and to perform a Training Level Musical Freestyle. I've chosen our music and know the BPMs (beats per minute) of Elementa's gaits. Now on to choreography!
Have You Given Porcupines Much Thought?
Well, I hadn't, other than to associate them with the poor dogs who had the misfortune to meet them up close and personal, with the resulting agony of having their many quills pulled out, one by one, by their owners or vet. But we need to get to Lulu by way of this gorgeous fellow. Meet Samson:
I met this tufted feline, a Canada Lynx, in my veterinarian's waiting room (our cat in tow for annual shots). We enjoy a parrot at home, so we need a vet licensed to treat exotics, but until Samson I'd only encountered a variety of parrots at his office. There Samson was, smack in the middle of the waiting room in the biggest crate I'd ever seen. His human friends were Ed Laquidara and Brian Miller of Animal Adventures, an educational and exotic rescue center located in Bolton, Massachusetts, just two towns away. I'd seen their van once or twice but didn't know anything about them.
Now I can say that I've scratched the head of a lynx. Being a professional photographer and animal lover, I asked if I could come and take pictures of Samson and any other creatures they'd like. I wouldn't charge but only ask that I be able to maintain the copyright. Ed told me they did, indeed, need more pictures of Samson, as well as a few more for some of the other residents, including Lulu, their porcupine. And so we made arrangements, but before I tell you about my extraordinary visit, a word about the reclusive and elusive Canada Lynx.
Due primarily to habitat degradation, it's estimated that fewer than one thousand Canada Lynxes survive in the lower forty-eight of United States. They used to inhabit sixteen of our northern states but now are found in only three. This is a high altitude creature who thrives in mountains on a diet primarily of snowshoe hares. A lynx can spot a mouse at 250 feet and has excellent hearing. Their great, round paws serve as snow shoes.
They are a threatened species, so you cannot hunt Canada Lynx in the lower forty-eight, but you certainly may in Alaska and Canada. One lodge in British Columbia charges $6000 to go on a seven-day lynx hunt and, of course, you get the pelt. You can sign up to get a cougar, but that will cost you $8500. Additionally, there's a wonderful seven-day trap-line offering that features an ever changing smorgasbord of animals. You might come up with a lynx, a bobcat, a marten, a beaver or any combination of them. Ah, the genuine thrill of coming across an animal that died a lingering death because of a metal vice clamped down on one of its legs!
But hold on, there might be an even a greater thrill. The creature--a lynx or bobcat, hopefully--might still be alive, so you can witness its terror and futile, tortured attempts to free itself. Canadian law requires that trap sets be checked at least once every five days. So, if you're there at the four or five day mark, you could get to see an animal barely able lift its head, its grand ferocity diminished by four days of hunger, thirst, and the pain of a hideously torn up leg. Since, you, the paying guest, are the very reason that the animal is languishing before you, think of the rush to which you're entitled. In the long run it's much cheaper than cocaine or heroin. As in the case with many serial killers--Jeffrey Dahmer springs to mind--you get to keep a portion of your hunt as a trophy. This permits you to brag to others, and to re-experience the event time and again.
What, you say, you are hopelessly urban and drawn only to gentrified metropolitan life? Well, purveyors of lynx fur have something for you, too. Wearing a lynx coat is a great statement about who you are and what you value. On the Internet I found that a new, Dior full-length lynx coat can be had for twelve thousand, a run-of-the mill second hand one goes for a paltry eight thousand. Take a look on the web and tell me who looks better, the female human stick wearing one, or Samson. You know who has my vote.
And then some people like to have lynxes as pets. A charming little lynx kitten can be had for $1,700. It's recommended that if you plan on having a dog or cat that they be at your domicile by the time your new kitten arrives, so that they can bond. Otherwise, you might later kiss that dog and domestic cat au revoir. I read a number of testimonials by lynx owners and saw many pictures of what seemed true friendship between lynxes, cats, dogs, and humans. Still, I'm not convinced that it's in the best interest of anyone to have such a large wild creature in a domestic setting. You'll see what I mean when you watch this YouTube:
Fortunately, there are such educational places as Animal Adventures, where great care is taken to ensure the physical and mental health of animals such as Samson. Here's a shot of a contemplative "Sammy," as he's known to friends.
While I'm on the subject of fur as fashion, please meet another cherished resident of Animal Adventures, the beautiful Sheeba:
Sheeba is what's known as a ranch fox. Does that mean she was once the esteemed guest of the Ponderosa or King Ranch in Texas? Nope. It doesn't even mean that she lives on a ranch filled with many foxes. What it means is this: she lived in a crate by herself, or in a pen with three our four other foxes. Foxes are choosy about their companions, and to make it to first base with one the first requirement is that you be a fox. Foxes are afraid of humans. And in these miserable cages there is no place to run and certainly no place to hide. Many of these foxes go nuts in this artificial and cruel environment. They often engage in neurotic behaviors, the worst of which is cannibalism. This becomes a problem for their jailers because a damaged pelt is not the desired end-product.
At least ranch foxes don't have to endure this tortured incarceration for long. At the age of nine months, when their fur is at its most luxurious, and when they are nearly the size of a full-grown adult, a wire is attached to their anus. And they are electrocuted. Someone intervened on Sheeba's behalf. She now resides in a large yard with this gorgeous red fox. Meet Isaac.
Isaac found his way to Animal Adventures by way of a human who thought keeping him as a pet was a bright idea. It wasn't. Foxes mark their territory with urine that smells akin to skunks. I once went into an empty little cottage where a vixen and her seven kits had set up shop in a crawl space underneath the floor boards. The stench was horrendous. Also, foxes are playfully destructive. If you allow them into your home you can kiss all soft furnishings--mattresses, chairs, sofa cushions, and pillows--good-bye. A third reason not to have a fox as a pet is that a fox really doesn't want to be your pet. If you want to enjoy the company of a fox, you should locate a den and spend many hours sitting quietly nearby. At the very least, the fox will eventually determine that you're a fairly benign part of their landscape, and you will be rewarded.
Here's a shot of five of the seven darling, curious, but odiferous critters that lived under the cottage:
Looking as if she'd just stepped out of a fairy tale, Mama Vixen appeared just minutes later:
A gaggle of geese, a murder of crows, an exhilaration of larks, a herd of horses, a pride of lions, a colony of ants, a court of kangaroos--those are the group names of the aforementioned. What are foxes called? A skulk. That's neither nice nor accurate. Skulk implies that a certain hunting behavior is evil or cowardly. The playful little kits didn't skulk and neither did their hard-working mother. She hunted but she did not skulk. A farmer may project evil intent on an animal that can quickly decimate livestock, but a fox doesn't think its hunting behaviors are evil. They are just doing their best for themselves and their family. So how about a fiesta of foxes? That's what you'll see when you encounter a family of foxes that either doesn't know or doesn't mind that you're watching.
Finally, here is the enchanting and winsome Lulu:
Not until I met Lulu did I understand how adorable porcupines are. Of course, to get to know them you require a pair of good, thick gloves. Here is Lulu enjoying a grape supplied by her handler and friend Calvin:
Requesting yet another:
With friend Calvin:
Such still shots can give you only some idea of these wonderful rodents and the true affection Lulu expressed in Calvin's arms. So, I found this YouTube for you:
http://youtu.be/U5I5H7EeC8k http://youtu.be/U5I5H7EeC8k
Here are a few miscellaneous facts about porcupines you might find interesting. It was long thought that porcupines had cornered the market on rodent longevity. In zoos some have made it to twenty. However, it was recently discovered that the naked vole rat takes the title with an ability to live thirty years.
Baby porcupines are called porcupettes . A group of porcupines is called a prickle.
There are numerous other wonderful animals at Animal Adventures, so if you find yourself in the Boston area have a visit.
If you live in the Boston area have them to your school. They'll bring all sorts of reptiles that kids just love.
In a few days I'm off to Montana with my husband to visit my son Alec, his terrific dog Digby, a Staffordshire terrier and former resident of Yonkers Animal Shelter in New York. I'm taking my camera and will be on the lookout for another elusive creature, a wild mustang. That will take a lot of luck.
Talk with you soon, and thank you for reading The Windflower Weekly:
Ainslie
Sources:
http://www.bobcatsmt.com/faq.htmhttp:
cuteoverload.com/2013/04/25/what-happens-when-you-pet-a-porcupine
http://www.furhatworld.com
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?p=372&more=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcupine
http://www.mspca.org/programs/wildlife-resources/species-information/about-porcupines.htmlhttp://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004725.html
Links:
http://www.animaladventures.net/
http://www.amazon.com/Trophies-An-Equestrian-Romance-ebook/dp/B00998J2B2
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-kaleidoscope-pony-ainslie-sheridan/1114272809?ean=2940015948592
http://www.allhorsestuff.com/
http://www.facebook.com/YonkersShelter
http://www.saveyourassrescue.org/foradoption.htmlhttp://www.rubysvoiceequine.com/index.asp
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