So do you ever go into the emergency/injuries/cures section and tell people "It's only a flesh wound" with a goofy british accent?
No, but I've pulled a fair number of things in emergency wards, while either 'checking in or dropping off', all of which I found extremely funny, some of which can be blamed upon being concussed, but some can't. Once I went into the emergency after a car accident, with a broken collar bone, and a possible broken neck, so they strapped me into this whole back thing with about fifty rolls of tape and dozens of straps, learned over and asked me how I was and I said, 'can I go pee', and the nurse said 'shut up or i will put a catheter in you'. Some people have NO sense of humor.
Back to the topic at hand. Those who said that some of the Spanish breeds often have cresty necked mares, are to be annointed, they are right.
I told my husband that we were going to get a horse after we get a "farm". He said no way, they don't taste good.
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Actually, horse is supposed to taste a lot like elk or caribou.
A lot of breeds with Spanish/Iberian heritage: Andalusians, Barbs, Jennets, Lusitanos, Alter-real, Peruvian Pasos, Paso Finos, Lippizans, Kladrubers (a Czech breed) and even some mustangs and Quarter horses even exhibit a cresty neck.
In my state, there's a guy who does endurance on an Arab/Mustang that looks like a slender, bay Andalusian. This thing is huge despite its heritage, about 15.2hh and SOLID but the muscling is fairly lean. Huge hooves too, wavy black mane and tail. He's a gorgeous boy.
The close-up is the boy I'm talking about. Unfortunately, so full shots of him. If I find a better one, I'll post a link. http://www.hopkinscreekride.com/
As far as my own personal use of this mare, she will likely never be asked for more than simple arena work, and occasionally some slow easy mild to moderate trail riding. My wild days are long behind me. The hardest thing I'd probably ever ask her to do would be move off my leg a bit to open a gate, or pick up a canter from a walk, on the correct lead. Most of the riding will be on a loose rein, so no driving up onto the bit, no strong extended trotting, no hard stops, no spins, no barrels or poles, no keyhole, no counter canter, no piaffe, no poker rides, no fording of chest high rivers, no roping, cutting, or reining, nothing harder than very basic riding, about like D1 in Pony Club. I may, depending how things go, ask her if she would like to drive. If she does, she we may do a little of that, as long as it is fun for both of us. And yes, I have a very specific reason for the breeding I am planning. My reasons and uses are not the same as most mainstream horse people, and my intended use for the baby is not mainstream, and not likely to make the news, or the gossip column whenever it gets here, grows up and gets used. Papers don't matter, because very likely it will live where there are no shows, and almost no registered horses, and its use will be not in any classical discipline that I know of. I plan to use it to the best of its ability, for my own pleasure and enjoyment, in my retirement. I am mostly crossing my fingers for disposition and good legs and feet, which both parents have. Any useable horse for moderate to light pleasure use that results from the cross will tickle me pink.
Hah! Vet called back, she DOES have a low thyroid. I thought she did, from the very first time I saw the pic on the craigslist ad. Everybody else said nah... Woot! Cheap fix, and easy to deal with. Might get some of the extra chub off her and clean up her neck a tad too. Not that anyone asked, just sitin' here sharing minutiae with anyone who is interested. Runs in Andalusians fairly commonly.