Cold and camouflage

The days are chilly beneath a cold bright blue winter sky. During daylight hours, the horses sun themselves. Their thick coats are warm to the touch.

Luke stood in the field, his coat a rich colour in the low sun. Though dozing when I climbed up the slope, he woke and wanted to play. His idea of entertainment was to play chasing games, waiting until I had walked a little way and then running up behind me. Fortunately he is not an aggressive fellow, and nor would I tolerate him starting to play rough with humans. He just wanted to be noticed and scratched. His mother, busy eating hay that we had put out, simply wasn't interesting for an active young colt.

Luke's coat is thick and keeps him well insulated. I pushed my fingers into the warm mass of fur that envelops his body, feeling how warm he is. There is nothing to worry about leaving Luke outside. Like all the foals who have been born here, he is very well insulated. He will shed copiously when his first spring arrives in just a few months. For now he is soft and fluffy, like a huge animated stuffed toy.

The rest of the herd wandered around the large field, safe from predators in the wide open space on a bright afternoon. I spotted Mura the roan mare down in a dip, by the copse that surrounds a small spring. This is a favourite place for horses to scratch. It surprised me just how well her blue roan coat blended into the soft grey colours and long shadows of the wintry woodland. Ordinarily, one might look at a roan and wonder what advantage such a colour could possibly yield. Here was a demonstration of just how useful her coat can be. Not only does the colour blend into the background, the soft edges and dark points tend to break up her outline.

Comments

[BarnGoddess]

oh my gosh! I just viewed the train photos. Magnificant countryside you live in. Absolutely gorgeous. Some of the pics looked so cold but still beautiful. My favorite photo was the "draught horses pass Hevetia".

I would LOVE to ride horses in your country and then take a long train ride...crazy arent I?

Lukes coat looks very warm. Mura blends in so well! Natural camo.

My Old Guy has the softest coat of any horse Ive ever touched, he is as soft as my cats. I never blanket him either....

[Transylvanianhorseman]

I'm glad that you like the train photos. I can email high resolution photos if any reader has a special request.

Lori, you are most welcome to come and ride. If you can pull together a group of, say, six riders then you can take a week riding holiday for free. That's a regular offer that we do here to encourage groups. (I hope that I don't sound too mercenary.....you know what keeping horses costs.) There are some great train rides too.

One day I shall make it to the Colorado/New Mexico border and ride the Toltec & Cumbres line.

Mura was jet black when she was born, hence her name (which means "blackberry"). She became roan when changing coat at the end of her first winter. Two dun foals became roans too.

[sue]

Absolutely magnificent! Thank you to whoever has taken the pictures and to you for finding the time to share them.

[Transylvanianhorseman]

Thank you, Sue. I take the photos myself using a small digital camera, a Canon A80. It's the sort with a built-in zoom lens. Danielle has a good digital SLR, however I take a camera that fits into my pocket for convenience (plus, I'd rather not drop an expensive camera when I am riding). Luckily I have a bit of time for posting in the Winter.

[Lauren]

I absolutely love the photos Julian... and seeing your posts makes me feel so far away here in the moderate climate of Southern California, but reading your words I feel as though I were there. I can't believe it's been a year and a half since I interned... it doesn't seem like that long ago. Time does fly from us. Good luck with all your endeavors promoting safe riding and responsible tourism, they are admirable goals. I can't believe Luke has grown so big already, I hope no one faints when it comes time to castrate him ;)

[Transylvanianhorseman]

Maybe you'll be back one day, Lauren? You will be surprised by how much has changed, with the new buildings and so on. I'll have to decide whether to cut Luke. He might be useful for breeding.

[sarah]

oh, Lukey!! He just gets more gorgeous as he gets older.....& I'm gonna be a strong campaigner for not having him gelded, so long as he turns out as good natured for riding AND breeding as Doru :p