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Post by xanthe on Oct 8, 2008 18:40:29 GMT 1
Here's my other mule who you might be amused to see: his name is Xato (pronounced Chato), he was born on 7-6-06 and he has been brought up the IH way from day one. Unfortunately everyone tells him he's beautiful and unique and he now believes it so he will be getting a refresher course in advance and retreat in the very near future. First photo was taken when he was a couple of hours old: Next one was taken when he was about 3-4 months old: And this was taken on the way to the village so that he could be blessed in the procession of St Anthony on 17-1-07, as you can see he started learning about traffic and being sensible from an early age. He still travels tied to the shaft by his mother if we drive (it saves him being and idiot while we are out).
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Post by horsey123 on Oct 14, 2008 21:21:26 GMT 1
wow he is stunning
what breed is his mum i love her color
and why is he hogged and his tail clipped if you dont mind me asking ??
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Post by tt on Oct 15, 2008 8:12:39 GMT 1
They are beautiful and the mare is a stunning colour, looking at those mountains are you anywhere near Capadepera/Cala Rajada?
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rh
No Longer Posts on the DG
Posts: 263
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Post by rh on Oct 16, 2008 17:34:58 GMT 1
Hi Xanthe , great pics .What lovely boys. Where abouts are you in Mallorca ? I have a house over there although I reside in the Uk .
Rach
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Post by xanthe on Oct 17, 2008 14:04:04 GMT 1
Hi everyone
Thank you for your messages, to answer your questions:
- Mum's breed is Hispano Breton which is a heavy horse they have in the Pyrenees, we imported her from mainland Spain.
- We hogged his mane and tail as soon as the adult hair started growing out which is what everyone does here. The reason is that you don't end up with the foal hair hanging on at the bottom of the mane and tail.
- I am between Pollensa and Alcudia.
The latest news on the Appys is that I did a Join Up yesterday with Jordi (the smaller one) and although he did not follow me quite a close as I would have liked he did do the follow up circles nicely and afterwards he let me go up to him and just touch him on the shoulder and walk away. After a couple of times he started leaning towards me so that I could touch him more easily and after about 5 times he gave a great sigh so I immediately finished the session. I was so pleased with him, he's really trying so hard to overcome his fears.
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jinglejoys
Grand Prix Poster
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 3,503
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Post by jinglejoys on Oct 19, 2008 14:45:37 GMT 1
Reminds me a bit of Albies' new Mule El Duke I love that dappling (is it just the photo or is she a chocolate dapple..don't know the correct term but you can guess what I mean )
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Post by xanthe on Oct 20, 2008 14:37:21 GMT 1
Hi jingejoys
thanks for the photo of El Duke.
Yes the mare is chocolate dapple, much more so in the summer than in the winter. Liz P found out for me that it is called the silver dilute gene. Her son, the mule is now the same, so that in the future I should have a matching (!?) pair for driving.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2008 16:29:07 GMT 1
You'll be faced with hard choices then, Xanthe. Do I drive the appy pair or the dapple pair today... Just watch it or you'll become a tourist attraction!
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veronp
Intermediate Poster
My beautiful Buster
Posts: 143
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Post by veronp on Oct 21, 2008 13:22:15 GMT 1
Hi Xanthe the mules are adorable. I hope you do not mind me asking but in Mallorca do they not have anything like, dare I say, the RSPCA? But anyway you have wonderful, well looked after animals. VeronPx
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Post by xanthe on Oct 22, 2008 7:03:56 GMT 1
Hi Veronp We have very good animal refuges and a police unit that deals with cruelty to animals but I'm trying to get this taken care of in a roundabout way so that no trace comes back to me. The previous owner of the mules has been known to take revenge on the animals if the owner does something he doesn't like and I don't want to risk my menagerie.
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veronp
Intermediate Poster
My beautiful Buster
Posts: 143
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Post by veronp on Oct 22, 2008 12:23:40 GMT 1
Hi Xanthe That sounds serious. I totally agree you must do anything you see fit for the safety of your animals. Aren't people awful. VeronPx
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Post by xanthe on Oct 23, 2008 17:46:33 GMT 1
Latest news on the Appy front: I did a Join Up with Tomeu (the larger of the two) a couple of days ago.
Today I have spent about half an hour in all just spending time with one and then the other in the round pen, I got them walking quietly beside me, stopping when I stop and backing up a couple of paces. I also increased the area they are happy with my stroking, I managed to reach the hindquarters on both of them and I have got all the head, ears, neck and rib cage de-sensitized. Next session I will use a false hand just in case when I start to go down the front legs, under the belly and down the back legs.
The friend who helped me transport them when I bought them came to see them and could not believe the difference in their behaviour.
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