Monday, November 20, 2017

Monday 20th November 2017...Road Trip day 3!!!!

It is quite amazing what I can fit into a day without feeling rushed......

I had a great sleep and it was chilly when I woke up so put the furnace on and in minutes toasty and warm in the RV.......had breakfast and then the owner Chuck came to visit and we sat in the sun on the front porch him drinking coffee..me OJ and then he took me on a working tour of the ranch...

But first he told me about the dogs they breed and sell for around 1200 dollars each!!!!


Silken Windhound


  • Breed Group: Mixes and More
  •  
  • Height: 18.5 to 23.5 inches at the shoulder
  •  
  • Weight: 20 to 45 pounds
  •  
  • Life Span: 14 or more years
If you've ever dreamed of a small, curvy dog something like a tiny Borzoi, with a long, flowing coat and soulful eyes, then you've dreamed of a Silken Windhound. These gentle dogs are descended from the larger Borzoi, the shorter-coated Whippet, and a bit of Sheltie, but are today very much a breed all their own.

Breed Characteristics

Adaptability
4 starsDog Friendly
3 starsShedding Level
3 stars
Affection Level
4 starsExercise Needs
3 starsSocial Needs
3 stars
Apartment Friendly
5 starsGrooming
3 starsStranger Friendly
3 stars
Barking Tendencies
2 starsHealth Issues
2 starsTerritorial
2 stars
Cat Friendly
3 starsIntelligence
3 starsTrainability
3 stars
Child Friendly
3 starsPlayfulness
3 starsWatchdog Ability
2 stars

Did You Know?

The oldest known Silken Windhound lived a few months past her 20th birthday. Many Silkens live well into their teen years.
Many Silkens are the favored pets of Borzoi owners who wanted something similar but smaller. They are, indeed, very like the Borzoi, although they tend to weigh between only 20 and 45 pounds. Their silky coats come in all colors and patterns, and require weekly brushing to prevent tangles. They shed, but not excessively.
Like all his sighthound cousins, the Silken Windhound loves to run, and his desire to chase things is extremely powerful. However, he's a bit more trainable than the other members of the Greyhound family, and much more likely to do well in dog parks, and to be fairly easy to train to come when called even when a young dog.
Silken Windhounds are typically clean and well-mannered. Silken Windhounds tend to be very good with children, cats, and other dogs. They are housedogs and will always appreciate having a comfy place to lie down. Sharing the sofa with you is perfect.

Other Quick Facts

  • When you look at a Silken Windhound, you see a dog with a long, wedge-shaped head; large dark almond-shaped eyes that give an alert, friendly, intelligent expression; small ears that fold and lie back along the neck, pricking up when the dog sees something of interest; a dark nose; a long slender neck that is slightly arched; straight, strong legs; and a long, flexible tail that falls in a sweeping curve.
  • The Silken Windhound has soft, silky coat that can be straight, slightly wavy, or curly with longer feathering around the neck and along the back of the forelegs, the hindquarters and tail. All colors and markings are acceptable.


This is our means of transportation taking some pellets out to the many horse Chuck boards on his 20 acres....


Breakfast time.....


What is a Caspian Horse?

The Caspian is a small (10-12.2 hand), elegant horse that makes an ideal mount for children. Unlike the comparably-sized pony breeds of northern origin, the Caspian is a naturally slim-bodied and refined horse. Caspians are highly trainable and excel at athletic endeavors, most notably jumping and driving. Purebred Caspian mares are typically bred to Caspian stallions to perpetuate the critically endangered breed, which includes fewer than 2,000 horses registered worldwide and approximately 500 Caspians in the United States. The prepotency of the breed shines through when Caspians are crossed with larger horses to produce sport ponies of exceptional quality.


Brief History of the Breed

seal of Darius I
The Caspian horse holds the distinction of being both one of the oldest and one of the newest of horse breeds. Current archeozoologic evidence dates the Caspian back to at least 3,000 BC, pre-dating other recognized breeds of horses. When the Persian Empire collapsed in 644 AD, its royal horse was “lost” for more than a thousand years until its re-discovery in 1965. The Caspian may represent Horse Type 4 in the development of the modern horse, making it the only foundation type that exists as a modern breed. During its 5,000 year saga, the Caspian has experienced life as a royal treasure and a peasant’s cart horse. It has served as a source of national pride and a source of meat. While research on the breed’s origins continues, the current story of the Caspian horse is nothing short of amazing.

One Person Does Make a Difference: The Story of Louise Firouz

Without the careful observations and incredible tenacity of one woman, Louise Firouz, the Caspian horse may have remained hidden or been lost forever. Louise was an accomplished young horsewoman from Virginia. Louise met her Iranian husband, Narcy, during college and they moved to Iran in 1957. They lived near the ancient Persian Empire capital of Persepolis, founded by Darius I during his reign from 522 to 485 BC. Small, elegant horses were featured on many stone carvings on the palace walls. The stone carvings came to life when Louise first saw a small horse in a remote village near the Caspian Sea in 1965. With great effort and many setbacks, Louise collected a number of the small horses. The Caspian horse had been re-discovered. Political turmoil in Iran made her task nearly impossible at times, but Louise persevered and ensured the breed’s survival.
seal of Darius I
The Caspian resumed its status as royal treasure when HRH Prince Philip of England received a stallion and mare from the Shah of Iran in 1972. Due to his concern for the breed’s precarious position, Prince Philip assisted in securing the export of additional Caspians to the UK. The Caspian Horse Society of the United Kingdom (CHS-UK) was formed in 1975. An International Stud Book was established in 1978.
The Caspian Horse Society of the Americas (CHSA) was formed in 1994 and maintains the official breed registry for the Western Hemisphere.
Although Louise Firouz passed away in 2008, her legacy lives on in the remarkable Caspian horses she re-discovered and cherished



It was a fascinating two hours I asked so many questions and Chuck was a perfect host and I learned so much about the ranch, the horses and the dogs!!!!

I then went out of town about 35 minutes to this place below.....it is a park but entry is restricted because of the size and the web page tells you to expect delays and maybe plan not to get in at all..so off I went and as usual lady luck travels with me and I was allowed in without a wait....

Hamilton Pool Preserve was designated a nature preserve by the Travis County Commissioner's Court in 1990. Located 3/4 mile upstream from its confluence with the Pedernales River, Hamilton Creek spills out over limestone outcroppings to create a 50 foot waterfall as it plunges into the head of a steep box canyon. The waterfall never completely dries up, but in dry times it does slow to a trickle. However, the pool's water level stays pretty constant, even during periods of drought.
The preserve is home to the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, and a great variety of other birds. The diverse vegetation of Hamilton Pool ranges from semi-arid species in the uplands to riparian species in the canyon. The uplands of the preserve are a juniper and oak savannah with a variety of native grasses and wildflowers. Several rare plant species including canyon mock-orange, red bay (western-most colony of this eastern species), and chatter box orchid are known to occur in the canyon areas along Hamilton Creek.


This was a beautiful area but I did not go swimming the water was so cold!!!!!







So pretty..I then took the other trail down to the river...


Just a great afternoon..came back into town and stopped in to Walmart for some things to take back and then back at the RV in time for tea before I went out walking around the ranch Chuck told me there were always deer around....
 Nothing special about the above photo except there were two deer in it before they ran off much quicker than I could get them in a shot, camera that is!!!

Sunset with a sliver of the moon!!!!!
and fin ally back home and the front stoop!!!

It really was a very interesting day and I have found everyone to be so friendly and kind.....

Dinner was left overs from last night and still delicious and now to the hot shower and then another movie on the big TV in the bedroom.....

As they say in Texas..."Ya all take care"

Yashi Kochi!!!!



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