Open Thread WE 13 DEC 23 ~ Horse Day


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“The horse moved like a dancer, which is not surprising. A horse is a beautiful animal, but he is perhaps most remarkable because he moves as if he always hears music.”
Mark Helprin, A Winter’s Tale

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Just horsing around today, in honor of national horse day.
Ride on.

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The narrative about horses in North America told in several written histories is due for an update, according to a study published last week in the journal Science. After examining archaeological remains of horses, researchers suggest Indigenous peoples had spread the animals through the American West by the first half of the 1600s—before they encountered Europeans.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/native-americans-spread-horses...
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The oldest oldest-known species of the genus Equus is Equus simplicidens, also known as Hagerman horse, Hagerman zebra and American zebra, which appeared about 4 million years ago. It could be found from present-day Florida to Idaho. Its appearance was relatively similar to the modern horse, being around the same size with similar teeth, a long face and neck, and fully fused leg bones. These early species of Equus didn’t stay confined to North America, they were so successful that they expanded their range outside the continent. They first migrated into South America and later spread into Asia, Europe, and Africa.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/american-horses-horses-in-north-ame...

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Hop up into the saddle and ride your thoughts below the fold.
Thread is wide open (sorta like the prairie).

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Resting with Ancients bronze sculpture by Nichola Theakston

https://www.nicholatheakston.co.uk

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2023/05/nichola-theakston-bronze/

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QMS's picture

Another fine day in the hinterlands.
Hope y'all find something good today.

80 years ago was WW2
80 years before that was the Civil War
80 years before that was the Revolution.

Just to put some things in perspective.

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Lookout's picture

A cool start to a nice day here. Just 32F this AM but headed to about 60, so no complaints.

A century ago there were horse races up and down the valley. Is the car an improvement? Certainly for speed, but maybe not for lifestyle and happiness. The lost of manure from the transition to cars required the development of chemical fertilizers.

Hope you enjoy horsing around today. Touched up the roads yesterday. Need to take off row covers today. Next week is above freezing, and the full sun will do the plants some good. After last weekend's 2.5" only 0.25" of rain predicted this weekend. The grip of the drought has been slow to dissipate.

Take care and have a good one!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

QMS's picture

This time about the CDC numbers during the panic demic.
Does anyone remember the number of flu deaths went to almost zero?
It was my first realization that it was all make believe. Manipulating stats.

The CDC estimates that between 12,000 and 52,000 people died of the flu annually between 2010 and 2020. The 2017–18 flu season had more related deaths than any other season: an estimated 52,000.

Estimates for 2020-21 are not available due to minimal influenza activity.

CDC’s enhanced/rigged COVID count always was the total of
1. Pneumonia deaths (bacterial, community acquired, secondary)
2. Flu deaths (influenza)
3. COVID only deaths (whatever that means)
From the moment the numbers diverged, I’ve wondered why Fauci et al, hat tip to the AntiChrist himself Scott Gottlieb, didn’t adjust their numbers upwards to include deaths from the mRNA therapy in the COVID DEATH COUNT. Who would have noticed except for a few crazies here and there?Probably because they were too prideful in thinking that maneuver would have clearly signaled their much heralded state-of-the-art clot shot was exactly like their true selves, miserable failures.

from poster Dr D Rich at TAE.

And why did it take the docs so long to figure out ventilators were killing people?

Ulterior motives.

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snoopydawg's picture

@QMS

A nurse speaks about what she saw in the hospital during the Rona scam. I’ll just post the link so not to break the rules on Covid discussion, but highly recommend watching it. We were told that hospitals were overwhelmed, but many hospitals closed down and very few took the Rona patients. She says that every flu season hospitals fill up…duh. And it’s weird that we closed the country for Rona for grandma, but we don’t protect grandma during the flu season.

https://twitter.com/ChildrensHD/status/1733940175687082090?s=20

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There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?

Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.

@snoopydawg extremely solid studies an articles. I am just waiting for someone to put up a Dose essay.
Hint hint.
Thanks for the link.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

This is what a dancing horse looks like.
I was in the stands, and like everyone else, disobeying the rules about being quiet, so as not to spook the horses. This rider broke the rules by encouraging the cheers. We were just hysterical over this performance!
My horse could do all the maneuvers required of Grand Prix, but did not have the strength to keep them going the number of times. He was a small, slender Arabian/Quarter Horse cross. The horse of my life.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

QMS's picture

@on the cusp

the way the forelegs pause to tap down at the changing beats

sure beats NASCAR

thanks soe!

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@QMS any of the European warm bloods. The whole discipline is rigged for very tall breeds with tremendous reach. Their extended trots can get them across the arena with many fewer steps than the shorter, stockier breeds. That means they have more staying power to keep animated until the end of the test.
I was into breeding them for a few years. A colt sired by a great warm blood named Bolivar went on to become a local and regional champion. I must say, ordering semen, artificial insemination, is as complicated as it gets! I had a great vet who was fascinated with the process, and he made himself available, kept a stall open for my brood mare, and the timing was crucial. He was just all that.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

QMS's picture

@on the cusp

only 'owned' (more like took care of) one pony, though rode many
horses over the years. Was young, maybe 8 or 9, and Corky was
a shetland gelding. Ornery little devil, but we had a lot of fun together.
Used to sit on his rear so he could buck me off when there was 3' of
snow on the ground. Didn't hurt me and it made him happy.

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@QMS brats. They are horrible little ponies for little kids, and they are marketed for kids, of course.
The last pony I rescued bucked off trainers who had performed in World Cup and even the Olympics. I gave it to a young woman who had a blast with the pony, and must have enjoyed flying through the air.
One wonderful horse I owned, with whom I experienced a bond that was unwavering to the end, must have missed me, or something one afternoon. He sort of nudged open my front door, came into my home looking for me! Cody was 16' 2"' hands, weighed 1800 lbs, was wearing shoes, and I have a slippery wood floor. I coaxed him back outside with carrots.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp

of reptilian ponies. Que es eso?

any of the European warm bloods.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris You asked for it!
Indigenous breeds of Europe were big, slow, cumbersome draft horses, later termed as cold bloods. Arabian horses were small, agile, smart, always ready to spring into action, later termed as hot blooded. Cross breeding to get a breed with size, strength, agility, and also to maintain that draft horse lack of independent thinking, resulted in warm bloods. (Referred to fondly as Dumb Bloods, easily trainable.)
Lizard brains were not introduced to equines, but were introduced into humans.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris of times, El. I remember it like it was yesterday.
I miss it with all my heart.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

QMS's picture

@enhydra lutris

free association is a creative way of being

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

TheOtherMaven's picture

blanks out the important fact that the Spanish Conquistadores, who reintroduced horses to the Americas, were Europeans.

There had to have been some initial interaction for the idea to get around that these new critters weren't just another source of food, but could also be tamed for transportation. (Even if the "interaction" involved no more than spying from a distance.)

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

@TheOtherMaven finest horses know to the world at the time. Many of these fine stallions and mares were turned loose at the time of the explorers return to Europe.
The wild horses in the US are descended from the best of the best. They are intelligent, athletic, and trainable. I supported wild horse rescues for decades.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

earthling1's picture

the name of Gene Autry's horse, but watched both of them filming at Vasquez Rocks and Melody Ranch when I was a kid.
Thanks for the links to the new pre-Columbian horse history.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

QMS's picture

@earthling1

ba28479477dc6076aa73100d6b1eee19-4229202776.jpg

Per wiki ..

Autry purchased the 110-acre Monogram Ranch in 1953.
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The Western town, adobes, and ranch cabin sets and open land for location shooting were retained as a movie ranch on 12 acres. Numerous "B" Westerns and TV shows were shot there during Autry's ownership, including the initial years of Gunsmoke with James Arness.

Thanks for the horse sense

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enhydra lutris's picture

or so they say, but ye ordinary equus is clearly topped by the fancy horse. I guess, to beat ye fancy horse you need to come up with two horses, so I'll see yon fancy horse and raise you 2 horses:

Behold Le Deaux Chevaux:

Citroën 2/CV. (1979).

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

earthling1's picture

@enhydra lutris
to Mr.Ed, smartest horse I evah nude.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

enhydra lutris's picture

@earthling1 @earthling1

must've been pretty pervasive because that phrase popped into my head the second that QMS said it was horse day. The truth is I didn't know where it came from until I looked it up.

be well and have a good one

edit: typo

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

in Huntsville, Texas, an arena built on the premises of The Walls Unit. (That is where the executions take place, also.)
The featured performers were Cisco Kid, riding Diablo, and Pancho, on his white horse. We got to meet them and say hello.
So, here goes:

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

enhydra lutris's picture

but Hoppy is missing. He rode Topper. I got to meet them once as a wee lad, recall no particulars.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

QMS's picture

@enhydra lutris

But here is Hoppy and Toppy ..

GettyImages-522769461.jpg

edited to omit an extra "O"

fun stuff!

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TheOtherMaven's picture

@QMS

Most "white" horses (including the famous Lipizzaners) are actually greys that have "whited out" as they aged up. True Dominant Whites are rare and, due to various genetic complications, difficult to breed true.

The Lone Ranger's Silver was also a Dominant White.

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

@TheOtherMaven And caution about either or: They are both very prone to skin cancer. First thing anyone buying a white or grey horse must do is to inspect their back legs by lifting their tails. Any nodules, bumps, or bulbs is a cancer tumor.
Don't own a grey or white horse unless you have shade and a big barn.
I think I have owned 5, all were cancer free.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

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@JtC No stunt rider was used?
What a horse!
Good thing paint horses are known to be slow!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

@on the cusp
Ben Johnson, world champion rodeo cowboy.

The horse that made the jump was named "Steel".

The horse Ben Johnson rode was a very famous movie horse called Steel. Steel was an American Saddlebred stallion that was used by many stars as he was so 'flashy' and so quiet he made the stars look good. John Wayne rode Steel in Tall in the saddle.

Snip...

Saddlebred and he used him in yellow ribbon in monument valley when jumping the crack in the earth!!! His father in law fat Jones owned the horse also used by Joel macrame, Robert mitchum, and Randolph Scott!!

Steel was replaced in the galloping chase scene by a horse named "Bingo".

Although it was not Steel in the galloping scenes. According to Harry Carey it was a thoroughbred called Bingo that did the galloping. Bingo looked enough like Steel to substitute for him and could go like the wind with a really extravagant gallop that looked terrific on film.

Imagine a horse so good that he had a stunt double.

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QMS's picture

@JtC

how to out-run the savages

thanks for the clip

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@QMS
were notoriously slow, whereas US Cavalry rode Morgans, American Saddlebreds, Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and Quarter Horses. They generally couldn't keep up unless they rode one of these Indians.

Indian_Scout_600_cc_1920.jpg

They could have jumped that arroyo as well. Heh.

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QMS's picture

@JtC

chasing down the cavalry
whooping it up
is a scene I would like to see

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@QMS
indian on indian.jpg

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he entered the gates. The photo came from jockey Ron Turcotte's private collection and is autographed.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

QMS's picture

Hunter Biden defies Congressional summons

Earlier this month, Comer and Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan warned Hunter’s lawyer that they would “initiate contempt of Congress proceedings” if the president’s son failed to comply with the subpoena.

https://www.rt.com/news/589009-hunter-biden-ignores-subpoena/

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The art/animation is beautiful.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

dystopian's picture

Hey QMS,

Everyone needs to quit horsing around!

my musical word association...

bad horsie - my nom for best whammy bar horsie

Hi Ho Silver - great Jeremy Spencer slide guitar from the most overlooked Mac album, cover art by Christie McVie

My favorite Byrds song - Chestnut Mare

Just tryin' to hang on for the ride! I didn't pick this horse!

be well all!

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

QMS's picture

@dystopian

your ponies will pick you.
thanks for the tunes!

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enhydra lutris's picture

@QMS @QMS

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

QMS's picture

@enhydra lutris

unlike ponies, they plow their own way
if you are chosen by one
you have a friend for life
choose the wrong one
and you are left behind
breaking a steed doesn't guarantee
commitment beyond
holding the reigns

Q

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Watch this, you might understand my horse getting into my living room.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981