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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Baldwin City, KS 66006 | I have to share this....my appy has had a dear/deer friend come visit him. 2 days ago, an unusual deer appeared in the pasture. He has been following my appy around like a lost puppy. We found out through the game wardon that it is an exotic, Fallow Deer. They are popular in the UK, however not as popular in the US....expecially our running around. We named him Harvey(like the rabbit that magically appears in the old movie). Fish and Game have contacted the zoo nearby to see if they can come get him...if not we have some other places in mind. He comes when called and although we are very guarded....he's not flightly of humans and knows what a feed bucket is for. My appy thinks he is an alien, with those "things" sticking out of his head, so he'll be happy when Harvey is gone....so he can get some sleep (he now sleeps w/one eye open all night). Otherwise, Harvey is not bothering much.....just alot of curious neighbors w/cameras. He loves our hay, alfalfa cubes and some sweet feed. (carrots too!) I took some pics and put them in the album under "dear/deer friend". Enjoy! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
 
Location: Northern Utah | I think it's great to expose your appy to these alien animals. I've seen too many horsemen come down a mountain trail and run smack into a string of Llamas and have their horses spook. The more of this stuff he sees the less he will spook on the trail. We had a trail ride and lady showed up with a big camel. All the horses at the trail head were freaked out. The rancher came in and said he was Soooo Glad he saw the camel, he was freaking out wondering what the strange tracks on the trail were from. |
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Regular
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Location: Baldwin City, KS 66006 | What is interesting is that I have 2 other horses that you can run a freight train past them and they won't look twice....not even flinch! But who does this "alien creature with an antennae on it's head" decide is his friend??????the flighty one that I can't take down the road because he bounces all over googling at everything thinkin a bear is going to eat him. HA! The man up stairs DOES work in mysterious ways doesn't he? |
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 Extreme Veteran
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Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Maybe someone raised this dear/deer. Could be why it's so friendly. It's probably in need of companionship. Thanks for sharing.  |
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Member
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Location: Leesburg, GA | I was out trail riding my horse this weekend and there was a little bit of wind and rode through thick trees and open fields and down the side of a busy rode and through neighborhoods with 4 wheelers running around and lawn mowers and dogs and kids. Not a single problem, then..... on the way home on a dirt rode we came across 2 turtles, doing what turtles do when no one is watching, and horse almost came out of his skin! If I hadn't been paying attention, I'd been on the ground! You just never know what's going to spook your horse. Malcolm |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | So true.......... My husbands horse doesn't spook at the things that will usually spook a horse, ie; bikes, hikers with backpacks, etc. But he will spook at "dark" rocks, certain logs or a squirrel or two. Go figure,,,,,But with my horse, he spooks at the "norm". Needless to say we always have an interesting trail ride in store for us when we go riding. |
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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Baldwin City, KS 66006 | I have often wondered.......if horses could read eye charts......how many would need glasses? Sounds funny but honestly think about it......most of us are near sighted or far sighted......wonder what they can and cannot see clearly. Yes, we are positive that it has been raised and considered a pet, however, if they didn't have the proper permits, then noone will probably claim it. He just doesn't seem to get too excited, pretty content with our farm. The appy has been more "bouncy" than the deer. |
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Veteran
Posts: 127
Location: PA | I wish you deer friend would come and visit my skittish Arabian.....it would sure do him some good!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland | Hmmmm, Equine Optometrist's  Picture of a future equine optometrist........ |
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Regular
Posts: 98
Location: Baldwin City, KS 66006 | Happy ending!!! An acquaintance of our family (his dad had race horses in the 60's/70's and 80's, & I've shown horses with him recently) had a few exotics and thru him we found a 200+acre sight that was willing to take Harvey so he can spend time with a bunch of does of his own species in a protected area. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 301
Location: Catoctin Mtn, Maryland |  Whoopie! |
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Dear/Deer Friend
