Conversations with Critters
Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. And the Critters go big again with Clee Images…
Today, Critters, we are pleased to present our latest collaboration with our highly esteemed photographer and writer, our friend, Behind The Lens by Clee Images.
You may recall the last time we went big in our incredible conversation on African Elephants with Clee Images. We learned outstanding notes from the field, especially that African Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal at 22 months. Yes, it all comes back to us now, from our post during the Spring Equinox, here on the 45th Parallel North.
Now, with the hint of Summer into Fall, with the approach of the Autumnal Equinox, the leaves interspersed with rusted shades of red and burnished orange, we welcome welcome the one, the only, the ever iconic Horse in excellent equine critter conversation.
Heidi: Hello, Friends! Welcome to our latest collaboration with Clee Images! We are so pleased to feature the Horse. Of all creatures great and small, can we find a greater incredible friend? Take it away, Critters!
Jasper: Did I hear our Hooman say burnished orange?
Chris: What.
Star: The seasons are close to changing, Jasper. We see evidence in the changing colors of the leaves which have yet to fall from the trees.
Jasper: I see. Thank you for the evidence based clarification, Star. I must calm my Orange self. Thank you very much.
Star: You’re welcome!
Jasper: Critters, last Spring, we learned that it takes an enormous amount of time, almost two years, for an African Elephant to have a baby elephant, a calf. Full stop.
Star: We now are presented with the existential question, how long does it take a Horse to have a baby horse?
Chris: I’m googling that as we speak.
Jasper: Excellent. Thank you, Chris.
Chris: And the answer is! It takes eleven to twelve months for a horse to have a baby horse, a foal. The end.
Star: Gosh. Would this be an appropriate time to remind our readers of the gestation times for dogs and cats?
Jasper: Yes, let’s confirm that. Good thinking, Star.
Star: Thank you, Jasper Kitten. Thank you very much. It takes sixty-three days for a dog to have a baby dog, a puppy, and sixty-three days for a cat to have a baby cat, a kitten.
Chris: You sure do know your stuff, Star.
Star: Thank you, Chris. Thank you very much.
Chris: You’re welcome!
Jasper: We must also further avail ourselves of this opportunity. Chris, would you like the honors?
Chris: Yes, thank you for asking. Dear Gentle Readers and Critters, we advocate for spaying and neutering if you are a dog or a cat. Furthermore, if you are cat, we also advocate for the Indoor Only lifestyle. The end.
Jasper: Thank you, Chris. Now, what have you learned about horses by tapping tapping your toebeans on the keyboard?
Chris: Critters, horses have evolved over the past 45-55 million years.
Jasper: That’s a pretty big spread with ten million years give or take.
Chris: Yes and furthermore, horses are domesticated.
Star: That’s highly relatable in my experience.
Jasper: Ditto.
Chris: Ditto, too. The most incredible field note is that horses evolved from a multi-toed critter to their singular toe that we know today.
Jasper: Chris, are you suggesting that horses have what is known in the vernacular as only one large toe bean?
Chris: Correct. This singular large toe bean is a hoof.
Star: Gosh, I would say that the rest is history as horses have served the world with their incredible speed and stability, their elegance and power, and most of all their sense of play. We owe them our gratitude. Furever.
Jasper: Thank you, Star, for honoring horses.
Chris: Thank you very much, Star.
Star: Critters, let’s share a special photo gallery of horses from our highly esteemed photographer and writer Clee Images who has this to share with us:
As part of my Animal Life documentary project, which celebrates the beauty of our planet’s animals while also addressing the injustices they face, I’ve taken numerous photos of horses. Half of these photos were captured at the Last Chance Horse and Pony Rescue Sanctuary in Ontario. This sanctuary provides a safe haven for horses that have been abandoned or abused, many of whom were discarded by nearby racetracks once they were no longer deemed useful. The other half of the photos were taken during visits to friends’ farms, where I had the opportunity to photograph these magnificent creatures in more peaceful surroundings.
Star: Jasper and Chris, why are you whispering?
Chris: What.
Jasper: Star, we have learned that this is the appropriate volume for equine communication.
Chris: Well said, Jasper.
Star: Thank you, Jasper and Chris. May we all learn to be Horse Whisperers. Furever.
Jasper: Critters, we thank you for reading and for your appreciation of the magnificent critter, the Horse.
Star: Please, until next time, stay safe, keep shining, and be sure to have fun out there, especially with our next Tuesday Post, Chapter 3 from The Case of the Misplaced Priority Envelope with the J Kitten, Sleuth & Purveyor of Bright Shiny Objects Detective Agency!
Chris: The End.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Poetry with Pets
A gallop, a trot
Fight or flight, of course of course
A horse is a horse
By Jasper Kitten, Chris & Star
Notes:
Thank you to Clee Images for another incredible collaboration with CwC!
Last Chance Horse and Pony Rescue Sanctuary
Incredible images from Clee Images. I love horses. Got to spend some time with two over the winter break while in the US. Heidi…the manner in which the critters research (they google… awww!!!) Then share their thoughts on gestation is…. priceless. We have astonishing creatures that share their space with us.
Hi Critters, this is Julie Rae. I love Clee's photographs of horses! She is our friend too. There are lots of horses living in my area, so thank you for posting all this great information about them. Well done! Luvluvluv you Star.