Tuesday, August 17, 2010

ABC Wednesday: E is for equine exercise

Recently I decided to follow a street above the 580 freeway to its terminus at Skyline Blvd. At the end of the road I found this private property where the rancher was putting his horses through their paces.  He gave me a "howdy, m'am" nod, and continued to work his horse.  I love the fact that he was wearing chaps and a big hat.  Who knew there still are cowboys and ranches in the Oakland hills?  Then, yesterday's newspaper had an article about a problem with cattle rustling in the East Bay hills!  It looks like the wild west still exists in decidedly urban/suburban Alameda and Contra Costa counties.  I also learned that these two counties have 400,000 acres of ranch land still in operation.
The second photo shows you how rugged the Oakland hills can be.  Much of this area is preserved by parks and watershed land.  And grazing rights, of course.  For additional "E" photos from around the world, visit ABC Wednesday.

9 comments:

  1. Equine is a lovely word isnt it? Not sure how it is derived from things to do with horses ... but I would love to work a trainer put his horses through a training exercise.

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  2. Yeehaw! I've been to Oakland and SF; who woulda thunk?

    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  3. I was as surprised as you that this area still has a wild west feel and look. Nicely done E.

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  4. One does not expect cowboys with horses anywhere near Oakland. Maybe Visalia, but Oakland? Not!

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  5. Thanks, pardner! Who knew?!
    The last time I saw anything like this was in eastern Washington in the Huckleberry Mountains.
    Helen Mac
    ABC team

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  6. It does indeed look like the wild West! Great capture!

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  7. Good informative posting. Could have fooled me.

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  8. Love the rustic first picture...reminds me of a story I'm posting on my blog of the old west.

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  9. Indeed, who'd have thought the wild west existed amongst all that civilization?
    Your pictures are beautiful, with a wonderful depth of color.

    Oh, and to Helenmac four comments above: I never knew about the Huckleberry Mountains and I lived near Washington State most of my life.

    The things we learn here -- just wonderful.

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