Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 1, 2011 11:36:56 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Our riding group had a big ride this morning and one of my buddies showed up with his horse Zakir, a Percheron rescued from a drug company factory farm where he was kept in a tiny, dirty pen and kept alive just to have his system manufacture drugs for us humans. This is very similar to the type of horse the knights of old rode n full armor and for scale, he stands over 18 hands and weighs about a ton. My buddy has another white one even larger that he says he wants me to ride once and awhile and I can't wait. Anyway, here's Zak:  And here's Zak's new friends, Some mini horses less than three feet tall:  Playing kissy face with Joker, the little mini stallion:  |
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 1, 2011 11:42:38 GMT -5
What a gorgeous animal! I've always been a sucker for dogs and horses - Zak looks outstanding to me. The minis are cute, but not imposing like the big guy.
Tom
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 1, 2011 12:06:40 GMT -5
Boy I'd say Zak hit the jackpot with his new life. What a beautiful big sweetie he is.
Was it anything like how they manufacture Premarin? I know they use mares for Premarin, but I'm just curious. Years ago, I worked for a retirement farm for horses and we got about 100 rescued Premarin foals in and we fed them up and had them vetted and they were all adopted immediately.
Jo
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 1, 2011 12:15:03 GMT -5
Mel,
Nice to see a rescued horse doing well, here in Oregon lately their been a lot of large farms and animal lovers, That collect them to take care of them. then realizes the cost involved.
Nice to see Zak doing well. Rescued animals are grateful - And Know when their in good hands.
My Dog story is close to the same. German Shepard did not like the table scrapes, daily feed for dog.
The dog jumped the fence and was a grateful friend for about 8 years.
Zak is in my size range to ride. I don`t like dragging my toes on the ground.
Jack
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 1, 2011 14:22:54 GMT -5
Jo: I know Neona, my friends mare, was used for premarin manufacture and was in pretty horrible condition when he rescued her ( very bad feet from standing in dirty stalls all day and night and still can't be shod). I forgot what he told me Zak had been used for as he is a gelding.
Jack: I'm with you, being a good sized fellow ( about 6' 4" and 215#) I prefer big horses too but feeding these big fellows, OMG! They are eating machines. Must cost twice what a normal horse does and both require special shoes, supplements and and medical care. Neona's snap on boots cost more than a $100 each.....Mel
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 1, 2011 17:57:54 GMT -5
Ya so, your feed bag any Less Mel?, And i see your feet are shoe`ed Booted will.
By parents just about put a time lock on the refrigerator door.
I to ware large feet, That need expensive shoes shoe`s. wish i was your weight Mel, now i`m 290 & slim, 14-Ds. in the 70s were hard to find.
I still ware a large Grocery Bag at feed time. and water sky on all "star Converse tennis shoes"
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blr2449
has rocks in the head
Can I retire now?
Member since January 2011
Posts: 554
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Post by blr2449 on Jul 1, 2011 18:29:03 GMT -5
The little guys are cute, but Zak is just so GORGEOUS!!!
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Post by Toad on Jul 1, 2011 18:46:36 GMT -5
What does 18 hands translate to?
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 1, 2011 19:51:35 GMT -5
about 6.6 Ft. to back. I`m 6.6 ft. i`d look short next to Zak. mini would be in the range of 32 -42 inch to back? i`d guess.
A hand is a 4.5 in. width of four fingers, no thumb
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 1, 2011 20:29:26 GMT -5
Jack, isn't it 4 inches? Been riding since I was 3 yrs old and had 4 horses in my life and I always knew it as 4 inches. Hence the 1,2 and 3 after the decimal. Was I wrong all that time?
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 1, 2011 20:33:34 GMT -5
Jack, isn't it 4 inches? Been riding since I was 3 yrs old and had 4 horses in my life and I always knew it as 4 inches. Hence the 1,2 and 3 after the decimal. Was I wrong all that time? Thank you, though i go with the avg. hand mine |
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Post by drocknut on Jul 1, 2011 21:11:39 GMT -5
Beautiful big guy, and lucky too. Glad he got such a good home. Those pics are great Mel, thanks for sharing them.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 1, 2011 22:22:51 GMT -5
Yep, a "hand" is four inches and all the measurements are base four. So Hopper, who's about 15.3 would be fifteen times four inches plus three inches more or 63" at the withers which is the sort of hump between the shoulders of a horse.....Mel
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Post by Woodyrock on Jul 5, 2011 2:14:47 GMT -5
Zakir is sure a good looking gelding, not at all looking like a rescue. Nice to see an animal like this having a good home.
I had a Shire mare years back, eat like a food processing machine, and wore size ten shoes. First time I had her shod, the bill surprised me. Tens are a lot more expensive than 4's or 5's.. I think I could have bought four ten inch frying pans for less money. She was a truely one of the gentle giants.
Woody
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Post by sitnwrap on Jul 5, 2011 5:49:22 GMT -5
Zakir is magnificent. Those minis look beautifully proportioned. The few that I have seen looked a bit mishappened especially the head area.
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Post by tanyafrench on Jul 5, 2011 9:41:09 GMT -5
Mel, they are wonderful! Zakir is one awesome man's horse but the minis are so beautiful. Up here in Ohio they all look fat that I have seen yours are built just like a big horse is supposed to be. Beautiful!
Tanya
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