The Trough Category

Perhaps you’ve seen the trough category and wondered what it was, the trough is where I post things that aren’t necessarily equine in nature.

Here is a collection of my favorite posts from that category, they span everything from flowers to barns to circus animals.

Photography is a powerful tool & many of these posts are full of imagery. None of them would be possible without the vision of each and every photographer.

10 Reasons I Love HDR | Creepy HDR | HDR Barns | Stables

Flower Macro Photography | Plant Macro | Flys Up Close

Paw Prints | Unusual Facts About Rare Dog Breeds | Endangered Canidae | 10 Reasons to Boycott the Circus

While I really love the flys, the Circus post is closer to my heart. Which one is your favorite?

There is something very tranquil about a pasture, regardless of the animal enjoying it. Most farm and ranch people will agree that few places can be more calming than a pretty pasture at sunrise or sunset.

Here is a selection of pastures beautifully captured by different photographers. Some of them feeding a hungry animal, some of them waiting for one.
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A couple of weeks ago I did a post with some flower macro photography and people seemed to like it. As I was searching for flowers I ran across a number of unusual plant macro shots I wanted to share too.

Here is a selection of up-close-and-personal images of some pretty (and pretty unusual) plants. The personality of each one is beautifully captured by the photographers.

It’s always fun to take a break from horses & look for something different & unusual to share with my readers.

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The HDR technique is a fantastic one and periodically I go looking for more photographers using it on their equine images. Almost every time I go looking I wind up wandering through non-horse related images too, blown away by the colors & shadows.

So I started collecting a few of my favorites and figured I’d share them with my readers. They aren’t of an equine nature, but they are all worthy of a glance.
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In keeping with the spirit of today’s festivities I thought I’d share some cool and creepy HDR images. This is a technique that does scary justice and these photographers picked their subjects well.
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Something a little different today. In my many searches for beautiful images I run across some that aren’t horse related but worth a share. Clearly I’m a collector and I stash them away until I have enough to show everyone.

I guess you could say I’m officially declaring today flower friday.

Here is a collection of amazing macro flower shots mostly taken by one photographer in particular. Martin takes some wicked photographs, enjoy.
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As an animal lover, it’s hard to know where to draw the line when it comes to animals in entertainment. Circuses have almost always been criticized for their treatment of animals & after doing research for this post, I’ll not visit another one.

Not A Good Message

Many of the animals used in this type of entertainment are facing extinction in the wild. What kind of message are we delivering to our youth if we continue to cage wild animals and force them to perform tricks for our amusement?
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Castile soap originated in the Castile region of Spain and was made from local olive oil. The term has evolved to encompass soap made from vegetable-based oils.

Products made from Castile soap do not use animal products (ew, tallow) as a softening agent. This means they biodegrade faster and require less from Mother Earth to be made.
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Most of the time paw prints are unwelcome, like when they are on clean pants, white sheets or freshly mopped floors.

Symbol of Joy

However a paw print in the dirt is also a symbol of life, a symbol of the happy-go-lucky spirit of the animal that left it. Or, if nothing else a clue as to which direction they headed when they escaped.

Feeling The Moment

However you feel about paw prints, the photographers below did a lovely job of capturing them and turning them into art. Providing us with a romantic view of what was through their lens.
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There is a long list of dog breeds out there (almost rivaling that of horse breeds). Each breed has their own unique characteristics and history, usually based on the conditions of their natural habitat.

You Don’t See That Dog Every Day

I’ve collected some of the more unusual dog breeds and decided to learn a little bit more about them.

Our Histories Merge

Dogs have had their place next to mankind for a very long time and it is interesting to see how some of the more unusual breeds have been shaped by humanity as well as Mother Nature.
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The ancient Egyptians believed that life was but a short part of existence, and that the afterworld was to be prepared for.

The gods of death and the afterworld were of supreme significance to Egyptian society throughout it’s entire existence.

A Little About Anubis

Anubis is the Egyptian patron of mummification and the leader of the dead on their path through the underworld.

Anubis is one of the more ancient gods and was the god of the dead before Osiris took that lofty title. At which point the jackal was appointed conductor of souls in the underworld.

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Being a lover of large land mammals it makes sense that my favorite members of the dog family would be the big ones. The wolves especially draw my attention.

The Last of The Wild Predators

So I did a little searching and found some breathtaking wolf images to share with my readers. Many of these breeds are masterful predators, however they one predator they can’t outsmart is…us.

Often considered a threat to precious livestock and partial to habitat rich in resources, they are persecuted by everyone from agribusiness to the small time farmer.
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