Photoshoot with Caesar

Caesar is a very photogenic horse and seems to know it. He also permits me to shoot photos of him (without a permit - yay!) and gives me the time needed to snap a rare, really awesome picture.

Along with taking pictures of Caesar last week, I was able to ride him twice! I used my favorite saddle ever: the bareback pad. During the last ride he got grumpy because I was riding him away from the herd. It took stubbornness and determination on my part, but I did persuade him to follow my directions.

Here is Caesar. :)

Hii! 

What?

This girl does seem to be obsessed with me, and yes, it is just a little odd.

Ohhi.

Again?

*blows* Really? 

Let's make this weird face for the camera! 

Finally, I can relax.

Caesar

Caesar is a very charming Quarter Horse gelding that I got to know better this past month. He's about six years old, had been a wild bronc, spent time being professionally trained, and now is a dependable ranch horse. :)

His personality is that of an attractive gentleman who gently and persistently lets you know his thoughts on matters. I tremendously enjoyed riding him, even though he had a magnetic force gravitating him towards the fenceline and gate.

He had an enchanting personality in the pasture as well. He came up with the other ranch horses to see what I was up to and sniff the camera before going about his own business (HINT: food). Every time he realized I was focusing the camera on him, he would pause a moment to look and blink at me before wandering off. It was so funny and cute. (:

And yes, if you can't tell by looking at the pictures, this dude really knows how awesome he looks. Which makes him even more attractive. :)

Hiiii guys.

Wait, what are you doing here, exactly?

Sniffing the big, black, clicky object. :)

Yeahh, ain't I hot. And I know it.

And yes, I do have gorgeous eyes and a steel jaw. 

What is this lens hood thing, anyway?

Ugh, more pictures already?

Fine, I guess I'll look nice in this one.

Notice the little birthmark type thing near his flank? I have no idea what it's called, but it's interesting.

Yes, I really am all that.

Airplane ears. (: 

I love how masculine he looks. :) 

I like his tail. AND HIS DAPPLES.

<3 the conformation.

Kicking at a fly.

Also, if you haven't noticed yet, look at his dapples, muscles, and conformation. Now tell me this guy isn't gorgeous..... And I'll still disagree. :)

Wild Bay

Wild bay has a similar phenotype to that of a normal bay, and it's allele (symbolized by A⁺) is found in the Agouti gene.

It is widely believed that the A⁺ allele is dominant to the other alleles (bay, black, and seal bay) in the Agouti gene. However, this has not been scientifically verified, and there have been reports of wild bay horses being produced by two bays. Another idea theorized by some is that the wild bay allele is part of a completely separate gene, not Agouti.

Regardless, it's pretty easy to pick out a wild bay from a normal bay. No, they don't all look mean, wild, and nasty. Instead, the black points on the legs only come up to the pastern (horse equivalent of an ankle) instead of the knee.

Here is a picture of a wild bay Arabian, and below that is a picture of a normal bay Mustang. Spot the difference?

Wild bay Arabian, image by Ealdgyth.

Normal bay American Mustang.