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Favorite Animals?

(19 Posts)
mrsmopp Sun 14-Aug-16 18:23:33

Went to a country fair today and fell in love with the magnificent Shire horses. They were in beautiful condition, manes and tails neatly plaited, coats gleaming and wearing full harness complete with shining horse brasses. They stood calm and patient, waiting to be judged. We were told their numbers are diminished these days due to mechanization but it's such a shame. They are so strong, yet gentle and patient.
I felt very nostalgic as there were lots around when I was a child. Not only on farms, but our coal man had one, so did our milkman. Even Steptoe had one!!
Beautiful creatures, I wish more farms used them nowadays. Much better than tractors!

DanniRae Sun 14-Aug-16 18:49:23

My VERY favourite animals are dogs but I also think donkeys are adorable. They just melt my heart when I look at them and I wish I could have a couple but I don't think my postage stamp garden is quite big enough.

NanaandGrampy Sun 14-Aug-16 18:53:48

My grandad had one - he was a coalman in Islington. On a Saturday , if I was visiting ( aged about 5) I would accompany him on his cart on his round to collect his money.

Then we would stop at the pub, The Mildmay Arms . I would be left in charge of the horse and cart and he would go in ' to do his books' smile .

After a while , the cockleman would appear and I'd get a glass of squash and a cone of winkles and a pin! At 2pm , he'd stagger out, and the horse would take us back to the yard !! My grandad wouldn't even hold the reins quite often.

I never felt unsafe and we never had an accident. I'd help untack the horse ( and I remember clearly I could walk right under its belly !) . Then we'd weave our way home.

No elf and safety in those days ?

So I totally get why you fell in love MrsMopp !!

My favourite animal would be the elephant. Saw them when we were on safari in Kenya a few years ago and it was a breathtaking experience.

shysal Sun 14-Aug-16 18:57:58

Mangalitsa pigs. Taste good too!

watermeadow Sun 14-Aug-16 19:36:30

When I went potato-picking at half-term in about 1960 they still used a horse to pull the trailer so a man wasn't needed. We just called to him to move along a bit or stand still as necessary. Such hard-working patient animals.
I like donkeys too, especially their neat little hooves.

phoenix Sun 14-Aug-16 19:43:11

When I was with exdh I had a small flock of sheep, I did love my girls, even the late nights/early mornings at lambing time, but my Deity, sheep are very badly designed!

Judthepud2 Sun 14-Aug-16 20:44:15

I love horses. DD has a lovely one. Summer is her name and she is a chestnut mare and she is a beauty. That's me riding her in the photo.

And I adore my beautiful golden spaniel dog! But don't like all dogs by any means.

millymouge Sun 14-Aug-16 20:53:45

My two rescue greyhounds are my favourite animal, they gives us so much pleasure. .And I like goats, they are so funny and very intelligent .

mrsmopp Sun 14-Aug-16 22:20:29

Jud, your spaniel is very sweet, is it a cavalier?

ninathenana Sun 14-Aug-16 22:46:26

I love horses my passion was passed down from dad he got it from his father who was a farrier in the Household Cavalry in WW1
I also love dolphins.

N&G have pm'd you

Judthepud2 Mon 15-Aug-16 00:19:18

No mrsmopp she is a working cocker spaniel. Lovely natured, lively and intelligent. They are bred to be gun dogs. Her parents both were but I'm not into killing birds so she is a pet but you can see how she would be a great gundog. Amazing retriever, swimmer and long distance runner.

TerriBull Mon 15-Aug-16 07:32:32

Cats - always has been always weill be. Dogs a close second, but they are a greater commitment and I wish they could clear up their own do dos, although some will maintain that cats don't do a great job on that. I think I like the concept that dogs have owners but cats have staff, there's a definite "what can you do for me" air about them and especially find them amusing when they turn their back on their owner when they have had the audacity to go away for a while grin Sadly I don't have one at the moment as my entire family, including grandchildren, seem to be allergic to cats sad

Lisalou Mon 15-Aug-16 07:43:20

I love a great many animals and find it hard to choose any one. Favourites would be Cat and Dog at home, I love pigs and have a fondness for Vietnamese pot bellied pigs too, although I doubt I will ever own one, and lastly as wild animals, otters are, in my view, truly special

Greyduster Mon 15-Aug-16 08:05:08

What is it about pigs that people find so endearing? DH loves them, and there were two on the children's farm attached to our holiday cottage that my d-i-l fell in love with and wanted to kidnap!! I like donkeys. They are patient and endearing. But I fell in love, while we were on holiday, with an Irish Wolfhound I met at a pottery near St David's (not the ideal dog to have wandering round rooms full of expensive pottery, but he seemed to know his limitations!). He was an absolute sweetie and I wanted to bring him home! They also had a lovely white "meet and greet" cat! You could almost hear it saying "come in, come in and have a look round" as it rubbed around your legs!

DanniRae Mon 15-Aug-16 09:49:41

Oh Greyduster although my darling dog is a Jack Russell/Border Terrier cross and I adore her I really love Irish Wolfhounds too. But little dogs are so much easier to have around. However when I get my House with a big enough garden for two donkeys I will get a couple of Irish Wolfhounds too - (The house and garden are fantasies, of course, but I can dream)

Christinefrance Mon 15-Aug-16 11:18:13

Dannirae that sounds like my dream too, love all dogs, husband wants a camel OMG

DanniRae Mon 15-Aug-16 13:50:17

Hi Christinefrance - if your husband doesn't get a camel will it give him the HUMP? Sorry, I couldn't resist that grin

mrsmopp Mon 15-Aug-16 13:57:42

Love cats too, Terribull, but I would love them even more if they didn't kill the birds in my garden? Not a nice thing to see - yes I know Nature is red in tooth and claw, but still...

KatyK Mon 15-Aug-16 14:02:20

I love elephants - and sloths!