Farm Fresh Blog

Thursday, August 23 2012

I'm not sure my horses are ready to move to North Texas with the rattlesnakes and copperheads.

I give you Exhibits A & B:

This is what I found on my morning walk with the dogs. The poor thing had dogs on one side of the fence and horses on the other. The horses were fascinated. The dogs had a more appropriate response.

Trace had the right idea. Stay VERY far away and growl and bark. Lily was the only idiot who wanted to attack the snake. That earned her a frappuccino bottle bounced off her head. She never saw it coming and now has much more respect for snakes. Everyone else seemed to have some respect and trust me when I shouted,

"No! It's a NASTY! Get away!"

Unfortunately, the horses have no understanding of the word "nasty" and thus had the poor thing cornered.

Barking dogs on one side

Horses on the other

What's a snake to do?

EEEKK! Get away you stupid horses! But do they listen?!! Nope. Right back for more. I wonder if they have de-snaking clinics for horses . . .

We eventually had to lure the horses away with the promise of a shower. Other Half squirted them with a water hose and while they were enjoying their fountain baths, the snake made his escape. I shudder to think how this would have turned out if these idiots had run across a rattlesnake.

So I ask you, do people in subdivision have to deal with this at 8 am?

Posted by: forensicfarmgirl AT 10:13 am | Permalink | 9 Comments | Email

Comments:

As much as it gives me the willies, you took a great shot of that snake biting at the horse! Any chance that is Nadine, or is it too small?

Posted by Janie on 08/23/2012 - 11:56 AM

I read somewhere where someone was advertising "de-snaking" clinics for horses, so I think it is done. Yikes, I'd freak if I saw that sucker, poisonous or not!

Posted by cg on 08/23/2012 - 09:51 PM

What kind of snake was it? I'm amazed that your horses didn't show any fear of it.

Posted by Sharon on 08/23/2012 - 10:03 PM

I answer to your question... Yes.. I have... What I find amazing is that no matter how many times I hear it, the "sizzle" always makes my blood run a bit cold.....

Posted by Eric on 08/23/2012 - 10:17 PM

When you get moved for good you need a flock og guineas! They pester snakes to death.

Posted by Susan on 08/25/2012 - 09:25 PM

Our Kookaburra (bird) would hve rubbed his tum to see such an exposed bit of dinner. Our snakes mostly disappear when the ground vibrates with feet etc. Rare to see one round here even tho lots of natural bush. See the birds occasionaly pick one up and whip crack them to kill.

Posted by Liz (Vic Aust) on 08/25/2012 - 09:51 PM

Yes, I need a flock of guineas. That would be fine except for the fact that I imagine my dogs would eat my birds. The snake is a Texas Rat Snake - creepy, but not dangerous. This morning Dillon found a snake skin under some pallets. I REALLY wish he wouldn't stick his nose under pallets . . .

Posted by forensicfarmgirl on 08/26/2012 - 09:00 AM

I haven't seen any snakes in our neighborhood. However, here in Cinco Ranch, there's a big manmade lake/pond/whatever that's actually an offshoot of a bayou. I've seen an alligator there twice. Even got a photo of it (used my zoom on my iPhone). Luckily, my dog was on the leash, and we gave it a wide berth!

Posted by Lynn on 08/27/2012 - 04:50 PM

We do have snakes here in residential areas in Arizona. The desert is right there at the outer edges of the valley. So backyard- take a step- desert. My sister and her husband found one by MIL's grill. You have to the fire department relocate them because it is illegal to even touch them here. Just found your blog, having fun reading.

Posted by Jean on 08/31/2012 - 11:59 AM