Bill and Juanita, owners of Allenspark Lodge B&B, are living their dream...

running a successful business and riding as often as possible.



Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Attack Horse

Washoe is not particularly fond of dogs; he has learned to be well-behaved when with humans or being ridden - everything else is fair game.  This morning as I went out to feed, the neighbor's dog came bounding over to greet us.  The neighbor and I have been working with this puppyish dog to "stay out of the corral", and she tries hard, usually going along the fence line to the corner and then charging over to see me.  Today, however, dog was totally on the opposite side of the corral and just came bounding through the corral.  Washoe was standing looking at me.  Without thinking - and focusing really hard on the dog racing toward us through the corral - I said, "Washoe, get the dog!" 

Wow!.  I gotta say, I was really impressed with the cutting horse 180 spin he did, launching himself at the dog at a full run.  I bet his butt wasn't three feet off the ground, he crouched so low, then just launched before the turn was done, coming to bear on the dog at a full run.  Estes, GunDiva's horse, was close by and joined in the fun.  Estes is an old hand at the cow chasing thing, so they looked like a matched pair chasing that dog.  You should have seen that dog high-tail it out of the corral!  I think it might be a day or two before said dog gets in our corral again.  Where is that hidden video camera when you want it?
Juanita

8 comments:

  1. Oh wow, wish I could've seen that!

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  2. Oh man... good thing they backed off, no? (Only because I've seen a dog get attacked, and it ain't pretty when they get caught).

    Pretty amazing that Washoe read your mind - or understood your words!

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  3. Rachel, you are so right. I would not have wanted the puppy (12 mo. old German Shepherd) to get hurt, but there was a lot of distance between them and the corral isn't that big. I wanted to give her enough of a scare to think! She didn't come over at feeding time last night...
    Juanita

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  4. Dang! Maybe I need to train our horses to go after coyotes!

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  5. Linda, that would sure be a help for you, wouldn't it? Washoe has always had a dislike for dogs; I think his little, wild, pea-brain might still think of them as wolves. I just use it to my advantage.
    Juanita

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  6. and you didn't even need that clicker thingy... LOL

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  7. haha!The dog's first clue...gee...those horses are bigger than me. Bet you were entertained and had a big smile on your face. Who says you aren't the horse whisperer? :)

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  8. I hope that's a lesson learned...

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