Watched the Rose Bowl Parade(one of my favorite things on TV!) awhile ago; had to feel really sorry for, but really admired, both the participants AND the audience-as it was pouring rain for much of it! Watched on HGTV, which does a complete, commercial-free coverage, and shows the whole parade, no matter how long it goes(unlike the 'big' networks...). In looking at the entrant listing on HGTV's website, I was thrilled to see that there were to be minis in the Parade again, for the first time in a number of years-but was then disappointed to see that only about half the number that was supposed to participate, actually was there....there were two wooden wheeled carts, and a pair-drawn 4 wheeled vehicle, with so much floral covering I couldn't tell exactly what vehicle it was. My admiration to those who went ahead and showed up; I just wonder if the group will be invited/allowed back, as I have heard the Parade has very high standards-and not delivering the participants you 'promised' is a no-no...
Stayed with HGTV after the Parade for a couple of 'premiere' shows that sounded interesting-one about the "World's Most Extreme Homes(I LOVE seeing those kinds of things!), and then, one on "Pet Pads", about some astonishing facilities people provide for their pets. One story was about a man, Dave R., in N. or S. Carolina-single retired gentleman, who built a home to accomodate him and his Miniature Horse! The horse, a 31 1/2" stallion, lives in the house with the man! The house is huge and very open, with HUGE, low-silled windows(but of 3/4" thick glass!!); all floors appeared to be either tile and/or were slate--although he stated that the horse often has the run of the house(the man's bed sits right out in the middle of one end of this huge open space), the horse can be confined to the kitchen, by a low dividing 'wall' with a gate in it. The owner stated that the kitchen was specially designed to accomodate the horse, as the floor is of slate with 'some' texture, and has a floor drain in it!! (Owner's comment was that this was easy to hose down. He also pointed out some slight modifications to the kitchen appliances,specifically, the dishwasher, to keep the horse from messing with them?)One of the openings to the outdoors from the kitchen simply has a piece of screening over it,like a curtain, that the horse just pushes aside to go in or out; owner stated that the horse preferred to be in, and there was no indication of what the outside facilities might be like. There is a round table in the kitchen with a slide-out (like a cutting board)that has a metal bowl mounted below it; he said that's where the horse eats, and demonstrated by pouring some pelleted feed into it. The horse appeared well-cared for,shiney and in good flesh-neither fat nor thin-and its feet also looked well-cared for--never got a really good look, but wondered if he *might* have had on glue-on plastic shoes...? However, there were shots of him lying down on that slate floor--surely didn't look very comfortable-but, that was his only choice, as no bedding nor resilient surface of ANY kind was in evidence,nor was any mentioned. The horse has a nice, LOUD voice(remember, I said "stallion"!) To each his own, I suppose--but I have to say, even if I COULD hose down my kitchen to rid it of horse poop and pee, I don't think I would care to! I KNOW I wouldn't want to keep a horse on such a hard, and slick, surface(even with a bit of texture, polished slate is SLICK-and the rest of the house looked even worse!-but I'll bet the horse doesn't dare try to run around or be rambunctious inside!) I love all of my horses, but don't really think I would want one as my FULLTIME "roomie"!!
Stayed with HGTV after the Parade for a couple of 'premiere' shows that sounded interesting-one about the "World's Most Extreme Homes(I LOVE seeing those kinds of things!), and then, one on "Pet Pads", about some astonishing facilities people provide for their pets. One story was about a man, Dave R., in N. or S. Carolina-single retired gentleman, who built a home to accomodate him and his Miniature Horse! The horse, a 31 1/2" stallion, lives in the house with the man! The house is huge and very open, with HUGE, low-silled windows(but of 3/4" thick glass!!); all floors appeared to be either tile and/or were slate--although he stated that the horse often has the run of the house(the man's bed sits right out in the middle of one end of this huge open space), the horse can be confined to the kitchen, by a low dividing 'wall' with a gate in it. The owner stated that the kitchen was specially designed to accomodate the horse, as the floor is of slate with 'some' texture, and has a floor drain in it!! (Owner's comment was that this was easy to hose down. He also pointed out some slight modifications to the kitchen appliances,specifically, the dishwasher, to keep the horse from messing with them?)One of the openings to the outdoors from the kitchen simply has a piece of screening over it,like a curtain, that the horse just pushes aside to go in or out; owner stated that the horse preferred to be in, and there was no indication of what the outside facilities might be like. There is a round table in the kitchen with a slide-out (like a cutting board)that has a metal bowl mounted below it; he said that's where the horse eats, and demonstrated by pouring some pelleted feed into it. The horse appeared well-cared for,shiney and in good flesh-neither fat nor thin-and its feet also looked well-cared for--never got a really good look, but wondered if he *might* have had on glue-on plastic shoes...? However, there were shots of him lying down on that slate floor--surely didn't look very comfortable-but, that was his only choice, as no bedding nor resilient surface of ANY kind was in evidence,nor was any mentioned. The horse has a nice, LOUD voice(remember, I said "stallion"!) To each his own, I suppose--but I have to say, even if I COULD hose down my kitchen to rid it of horse poop and pee, I don't think I would care to! I KNOW I wouldn't want to keep a horse on such a hard, and slick, surface(even with a bit of texture, polished slate is SLICK-and the rest of the house looked even worse!-but I'll bet the horse doesn't dare try to run around or be rambunctious inside!) I love all of my horses, but don't really think I would want one as my FULLTIME "roomie"!!
