Hogzilla!

Our horses have a pretty easy and stress free existence. The mares have the largest pasture, but about a quarter mile of it runs along the county road. I have seen all kinds of things go up and down that road from noisy teenage vehicles to Jake-braking trucks, moose, wolves, bears, coyotes, foxes, dogs,  deer, children, etc. The mares have had most of those things in the pasture as well (except for the vehicles) so they are pretty used to most of them. They are desensitized to most everyday sights, sounds, and smells.

When I got home after work on Thursday I was met at the door by the Cooker who said K from across the street called and thought their pig was heading toward our pasture. I said, "Okay," and walked over to the window to see what I could see. Casually coming down one of the hills toward the horse's lean-to was a large 400 pound pink low-to-the-ground pig. So I went back out and headed toward the barn to see if I could help capture this hogzilla. As I rounded the corner by the lean-to I saw the fence wires were broken and the horses tracks leading away from their hangout toward the "old boy" pasture to be near the geldings for some moral support and any comfort food (hay) that may be within their reach. 

I lead the girls into the barn and put them in their stalls while I went to help capture this wily and dangerous killer that had scared the mares half to death. What I found was an easy going, curious creature about the size of a short legged pony. The Cooker was there with a bucket of grain as K came along with a bucket of some more pig food. The ladies coaxed the pig out of the pasture and she (the pig) walked side by side with K down the driveway like they were old friends. K's husband J joined in and the three of them walked back down the county road to their little farm across the street. It was pretty cute the three of them out for a stroll down the road.

J is a big strong guy, about 6'3" and about 265 lbs. ( he helps me when the hay loads come), but if he wants to move hogzilla and she doesn't want to move, she wins. Hogzilla (her real name is Bacon something-or-other) is also somebody's mother. She gave birth at 18 below zero and here is one of her offspring.

I think maybe I should take the mares across the street and let them meet the pigs close up and personal in order to alleviate their fears. The younger mares were the most distressed by this pink interloper so I should probably take them for a visit first. I really have to stretch my imagination to understand the fear caused by the big, pink, horse-eating hogzilla, but I have to take it seriously without laughing out loud. I really want to hear the mares explanation for their reaction.

We just had two more inches of snow this morning, but winter is losing its grip. On the way to work yesterday I stopped to see if there was an water flowing in an erosion problem we call "New Falls". It was dripping, but mostly frozen.

And in a nearby tree was someone taking a break from cleaning up the winter's roadkill.

 Click on the pic and you might see the eagle didn't wipe its beak before leaving the table.