For the record, I feed generous quantities of hay to my equines four times a day –
breakfast, lunch, dinner and a bedtime snack. In addition, they have 80 stinkin' acres of pasture to graze!
Does this stop them from chomping on cholla? No.
The inside of this stuff holds some magical power over them. I hope it's not hallucinogenic.
Lucy: Stop fretting. We know what's good for us...
...and this doesn't hurt at all.
Lucy: Ok, maybe that one poked just a tiny bit.
Me: Uh...Lucy dear...you've got a little something hanging from your nose.
Lucy: How embarrassing. Don't let them see me.
I can't imagine putting cholla in my mouth! It's bad enough when the same stinkin' piece gets stuck to my shoe four times! Yow!
ReplyDeleteyou might have something there, about perhaps some magical properties. Maybe it's like dental floss?
ReplyDeleteOUCH!!! how do they do that and WHY
ReplyDeletelooks like a treat, or maybe acts like a chewing gum, regreshing the breath? or maybe they just do it when you are there?
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what they do about stickers in their tongues, mouth and gums??
ReplyDeleteI guess it's not for us to understand the allure of the cholla. But I'd bet that it must be something pretty terrific or something. But it sure looks painful.
ReplyDeleteHow does that stuff NOT get stuck in their tongues and lips? I can't even imagine eating that.
ReplyDeleteDoes Hank eat it, too, or do horses have a different opinion of the stuff?
ReplyDeleteLove the teeth shots!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how they can eat that and not get a tummy ache. Have you tried it yourself? I wonder if it's sweet or something? Anyway, Lucy made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteWell donkeys are desert animals. They must have really tough tongues to handle the stickers. Makes my mouth hurt just looking at the pictures.
ReplyDeleteGahhhhh! After making cholla bud ornaments for the ranch Christmas tree, I had a zillion minuscule splinters in my hands for *days*!! Painful AND irritating. Can't imagine them in my mouth... :-/
ReplyDeleteThey must taste awfully yummy...
clever donkeys! cholla contain more calcium than milk-I just read it on the internet: here is the name of the pdf document to be found on google search:Harvest the Desert Cholla Buds
ReplyDeleteThe main value is that it drives you around the bend, but must not hurt them or they would learn to stop it.
ReplyDeleteSometimes they just have to be nutbars.
ughhhhhhhhhh cringing!
ReplyDeleteit must be like chocolate is to me.:)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful detail in these pictures.
ReplyDeleteOUCH!!! My friend in AZ told me that that stuff is poisonous to humans...Not sure about animals, but it might be like a drug to your herd...Just a thought...
ReplyDeleteLove from NC
Maybe it stimulates the growth of the monsters when pieces are removed, like regular pruning. Think of it as gardening!
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos! (shudder)
ReplyDeleteAnd why do some people very willingly set fire to their mouths with habanero chilies?? Intensely painful and yet they are compelled to eat them, insisting that the burn is worth it!!
ReplyDeleteHow do they digest all those prickly parts?!?!
ReplyDelete