Real Equestrian!

It’s Monday again and a great time to learn about another plant that has it in for your horse. Today we’ll take a closer look at a snowy white flower that looks so innocent, the Datura.

A Little About Datura

Datura is also called Jimsonweed, Devil’s Trumpet, Thorn Apple, Downy Thorn Apple, Indian Apple, Moonflower, Sacred Datura & Angel’s Trumpet. This is an annual shrub with thick stems and elliptical leaves (both covered in fine, grey hairs), white flowers are trumpet shaped and fruit is egg shaped with spines.

How Dangerous Is It?

This plant stinks, which is an instant deterrent. Any horse that could withstand the smell would probably only do so under dire circumstances. However, it is a very toxic plant and one horses should stay well away from.

All parts of this plant (especially the seeds & flowers) are toxic and can be fatal to equines.

What To Look For

You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Datura toxicity symptoms occur around 30-60 minutes after ingestion and can include gastrointestinal upset, dry mucus membranes, photosensitivity, confusion & agitation & seizures.

Learn More

Be sure to check out the Datura page to learn more about the plant and while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?

*It should be noted that I’m not a veterinarian. This information is written specifically for horses and should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.

The end of the week is a great time to visit an exotic location and learn about the majestic horse breeds it’s given rise to. Looking at each breed in the context of their origins is a fascinating ride, & today a peek at the breeds from Morocco.

The Big Debate

When it comes to the start of it all, Morocco has a heavy hitter in the horse world. There is a debate about whether Barb or Arabian bloodlines came first and if they are, in fact, connected at all. Both breeds exhibit wildly different characteristic dominant traits, which they tend to pass on. The Barb is more solidly built for mountainous desert climates and credited as the foundation for the mighty Iberian breeds.

Mixing it Up

It stands to reason that the two mighty bloodlines above have crossed on many occasions. Morocco is home to an official cross called the Arabian Berber which combines the hardy fearlessness of the Barb with the refined speed of the Arabian.

Moroccan Horse Breeds

Arabian Berber
Barb

Horses of the World

There is a whole worlds worth of countries to visit, so be sure to keep yourself updated. Please let me know in the comments below if I’m missing any horses of the Morocco & check back next week for the breeds of Netherlands.

Every once in a while horses remind you that they are animals of prey. They are sweet as pie, but not always the sharpest tools in the shed. In fact, run first and jump over anything that gets in your way is a motto they seem to live by.

That’s One BIG Gymnast

Every time I watch it I just feel worse for the poor horse, he just got spooked and there was this fence in his way, so he decided to jump it…he just didn’t get those forelegs quite high enough to clear the hurdle. The men seem to just stand there, stunned.

Lets hope the big fellow is ok and that his pride took the biggest blow, looks like he got up alright.

Józef Brandt was a Polish painter during the later 19th and early 20th century and was particularly well known for his battle scenes. This is the third in a series of his art & I have one more to come.

Painting Machine

Mr. Brandt must have slept with his paints and brushes because he painted a lot of work. I like to call him the Polish Frederic Remington, they have a similar storytelling style and clearly shared the avid need to paint constantly. Be sure to check out more of his work in Pt. 1 and Pt. 2.

Brandt’s Horses

Although they aren’t the star of his show, horses make an appearance in a huge percentage of Brandt’s work. Check out Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 for more of his amazing work.

Canterbury Tales – The Reeve

The reeve he was a slender, choleric man
Who shaved his beard as close as razor can.
His hair was cut round even with his ears;
His top was tonsured like a pulpiteer’s.
Long were his legs, and they were very lean,
And like a staff, with no calf to be seen.
Well could he manage granary and bin;
No auditor could ever on him win.
He could foretell, by drought and by the rain,
The yielding of his seed and of his grain.
His lord’s sheep and his oxen and his dairy,
His swine and horses, all his stores, his poultry,
Were wholly in this steward’s managing;
And, by agreement, he’d made reckoning
Since his young lord of age was twenty years;
Yet no man ever found him in arrears.
There was no agent, hind, or herd who’d cheat
But he knew well his cunning and deceit;
They were afraid of him as of the death.
His cottage was a good one, on a heath;
By green trees shaded with this dwelling-place.
Much better than his lord could he purchase.
Right rich he was in his own private right,
Seeing he’d pleased his lord, by day or night,
By giving him, or lending, of his goods,
And so got thanked- but yet got coats and hoods.
In youth he’d learned a good trade, and had been
A carpenter, as fine as could be seen.
This steward sat a horse that well could trot,
And was all dapple-grey, and was named Scot.
A long surcoat of blue did he parade,
And at his side he bore a rusty blade.
Of Norfolk was this reeve of whom I tell,
From near a town that men call Badeswell.
Bundled he was like friar from chin to croup,
And ever he rode hindmost of our troop.

More Chaucer?

If you like Chaucer, be sure to check out last week’s section of Canterbury Tales, The Monk. If you need more horse poetry like now, you can always visit my poetry section.