I noticed a while back that one of our two Belgian draft horses, Bob, sports an awesome and very stylish mustache. It curls and twirls and is blond as well. Some horses have these, while others don't ... and I'm not sure why that is. His brother Bill also has a mustache, but it just doesn't have the same flair as Bob's (sorry, Bill):
While I was taking these photos this morning, Kate was about to start feeding the boys ... and the load of hay on the utility vehicle just out of reach was driving them crazy while I was clicking away. Bill finally had enough and tried to grab a bale:
Close ... but no cigar. With boys this big, it's easy to forget just how far they can reach with heads and necks so massive.
Bob says, "What, you making fun of my mustache, little fella?":
Um, no sir, just admiring it.
Speaking of mustaches, did you know there was an American Mustache Institute? Me neither.
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A number of people have asked about Wilbur's bulging eye. Our other vet, Dr. Chris Plumley, also examined Wilbur's eye the other day and doesn't think it really is bulging per se. He thinks the appearance is partly the result of shallow eye sockets, combined with the gray coloring of the cataracts, which makes for an "optical illusion" (if you will) that it is bulging. And we know from the eye pressure test we did that he doesn't have glaucoma, and there's no squinting or tearing, so there are no outward signs of discomfort. We will be taking Wilbur to our veterinary ophthalmologist in Vermont for a definitive diagnosis on both of his eyes, though.
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The new Shelter Challenge started Monday, January 9 and ends at midnight on March 18. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** Okay, this is important, folks: We are now LISTED UNDER OUR NEW NAME, ROLLING DOG FARM. State is still NH for New Hampshire. ***
Please remember, you can vote every day ... consider bookmarking the voting page to make it easy.
We won $1,000 as a weekly winner in the last contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Both my little guys burrow, of course (one is part dachshund) but the minipin is the one who gets stuck in the nesting ball bed, and then carries it around with him like a shell. The dachshund-chi rolls his eyes and tells him he is uncouth.
Posted by: Adele | February 07, 2012 at 07:01 AM
Bob's mustache photo definitely needs to be sent to AMI. They only had one other animal photo (a cat)-- clearly a gross underrepresentation of mustaches on four legs.
Maybe when poor Bill gets a little older, his mustache will bloom :)
This post made my day. Thanks for appreciating the funny little details of animals. You guys are the best!
Posted by: Debbie Burke | February 04, 2012 at 02:54 PM
Oh, how I love the horses! All of 'em ... the working ones and the RDF residents. (Not that the workers aren't residents, too!)
Thanks for keeping us updated all of them.
Posted by: Lisa K. from CA | February 03, 2012 at 02:24 PM
what a stately mustache! i had no idea draft horses had such facial hair. nice job bob!
Posted by: Ema | February 03, 2012 at 01:00 PM
Bob does have a beautiful mustache! I would too if I wasn't so diligent about waxing! :) I didn't know horses could have mustaches but I bet it helps him get noticed by the girls, if they weren't blind. It really doesn't help him on your farm!
Hugs,
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | February 03, 2012 at 11:08 AM
I have enjoyed your blog for quite a while. I especially enjoyed this blog post - made me smile and smile and smile. The picture reaching for the hay - wonderful. Thank you for taking care of these wonderful animals.
Posted by: Linda | February 03, 2012 at 09:14 AM
Oh! How! Funny!!! BillyBob sport'n 'staches! How very debonair. Way to be up on what stylish horses are wearing these days.
Posted by: Anne in FL | February 03, 2012 at 08:55 AM
These pictures brought a big smile to my face. If those mustaches aren't the cutest things I don't know what is!
I wonder if the American Mustache Institute would accept Bob's mustache as part of their site lol!
Glad to hear that Wilbur's eyes seem to be ok right now and looking forward to hearing what the opthmologist has to say.
Posted by: Ann | February 03, 2012 at 12:13 AM
GREAT pictures--thanks for the update on Wilbur--such a cutie-pie.
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | February 02, 2012 at 11:44 PM
What amazing horses...
I would say you need a ladder to get up on one???
I know...they are really not there to be ridden. But, wow!
Posted by: Glenda | February 02, 2012 at 09:31 PM