In the header, Mille (no longer with us) and Totti – dearly loved by my mother too. She still walks with me and the dogs every day. My last three dogs have all been of the breed Lagotto Romagnolo.
This week Tina is our host, and she has chosen a theme very accurate for many of us – Precious Pets. I have had many pets in my life, but I will post only my favorite choices. Otherwise I would fill your week!
better off than a lot of humans – James Herriot
In Homer’s Odyssey (c. 8th century BC), upon Odysseus’ return after 20 years, his beloved dog Argos is the only individual to recognize him.
Milo
Pets are humanizing. They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life – James Cromwell
A lovely young man and his dog, Westmannaeyar, Iceland
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read – Groucho Marx
Old Mr Marx might have a good point though…not everyone can have a dog…but there are alternatives!
Since I left home, more than 40 years ago, I have always had dogs, but when I grew up, we had cats. All of them were lost too soon, either run over by a car or just disappeared in the forest. The sorrow of losing them, and the fact that I wanted a companion on my walks, made me go for dogs instead. The two cats below both live in Heimaey, Vestmannaeyar. I believe their breed is Norwegian Forest cat.
Cats choose us; we don’t own them —Kristin Cast
A horse is a thing of beauty… none will tire of looking at him as long as he displays himself in his splendor – Xenophon
As a teenager, I was a horse addict and spent much time at the stable. Nowadays I only ride horses when we visit Iceland.
The Icelandic is a ”five-gaited” breed, known for its sure-footedness and ability to cross rough terrain.
The first additional gait is a four-beat lateral ambling gait known as the tölt. The breed also performs a pace called a skeið, flugskeið or ”flying pace”. It is used in pacing races, and is fast and smooth, with some horses able to reach up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h)
The Icelandic horse comes in a wide variety of colours as well, and the Icelandic language includes more than 100 names for various colours and colour patterns of their horses. I find them all very beautiful……but the combination in the last photo is My favorite.
Leya 
Such beautiful animals.. I love the pony one where he is peering around the fence. xx
An excellent sample of domestic animals!!! I love them all!!!
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What a fabulous post … so many beautiful images of those lovely furry friends. That shot of Milo is so special. As is the horse peeping around the fence. And those kitties .. 😻
♥ Animals are – necessary in our lives!
Aw, your selections for the precious pets prompt are wonderful. I adore this quote: Cats choose us; we don’t own them —Kristin Cast. You’ve got a gift for composition with pets, I love the pops of color in each photo.
Thank you kindly, Shelley. I love that quote too – I find it very accurate with the cats I have had in my life…
It is very fitting for the ones I’ve had as well!
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Splendid collection, Anne-Christine. And the horses are beautiful. I fell in love with them.
Thank you, Nurul – so did I!
Lovely look at the icelandic horses. The red-head with tussled mane is such a beauty. 🙂
Happy you like them too – and that red-head – I know what you mean!
My favourite too A-c 🙂
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A beautiful sequence Ann-Christine and I love those Icelandic ponies! I’ve only ridden one once (at riding stables in London) and it was great fun xxx
And you managed the Tölt!
Oh yes! xxx
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Wonderful Leya! These pets are really precious and we get so much attached to them… Love your horses – just gorgeous!
Happy you like them, Tatiana!
Beautiful set of pets there Ann! Those two Norwegian cats are amazing!! Never tried the horse shooting yet, it must be interesting to shoot them.
Thank you kindly, Raj. Those cats are of a beautiful breed. I love their horses – running free in that gorgeous nature. You should try it too! Not running wild…but photographing horses!
Beautiful! Love the horses.
John, they were amazing! Happy to share them!
Well, I thought this prompt would be great for you, A C, and I wasn’t wrong!
You are always right, dear!
Oh, I don’t think so!!
I always look forward to seeing pictures of your dogs out and about. They look so happy!
The horse in the last picture looks almost exactly like a miniature horse I once owned. I’ll try to find a picture of him to post.
Ah – I think they are happy! And Thank you – you made me happy telling me you like their pictures! Please send your photo of the miniature if you find it.
Here are pictures of my mini horse that looks like the one in your last photo.
https://bendbranches.com/2019/09/01/mellow-fellow-calypso-blue/
Thank you – found it so soon!
Wonderful post and words. Thank you so much for sharing. Here is my entry for the challenge 🙂 https://davidecasertavisions.com/2019/09/01/lens-artist-challenge-n-61-precious-pets/
Thank you, Davide!
What a thrill to see your animal photos, Ann-Christine. Did you once have a Suomenlapinkoira? They are such boof heads and they love to stick the tongue in. 🙂 I was very taken with the photo of the palomino and the red roof in the distance. I often think that if horses could come inside and sit on the lounge, they too would be considered man’s best friend. 🙂
No, I haven’t had one – but they look very sweet and furry like my dogs. Was it you who had one of those? I agree with you about a man’s best friend – I think in Iceland they are. And the Palomino, yes – there is no enhancing or anything, the light was just wonderful. I kept the photo the way it was.
I’ve got two Finnish Spitz and one Finnish Lapphund. The latter is very boofy, the former very cat like. 🙂
I remember asking you before – they are lovely!
A beautiful post. The photos are all lovely and, of course, your lagottos would be my choice for a pet. However, I found the Icelandic horses very interesting and special.
Those horses are very beautiful and sturdy – love them really…And, having that many words for them in Icelandic shows how much they mean to the people. I know in Greenland they have more than 100 words for snow.
Their languages are as rich as their environments.
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Those Icelandic horses are beautiful.
They are!
Our pets bring so much love into our lives, gorgeous photos Leya.
They do – and they are precious to my mother who is struck with dementia. Animals make magic. Glad you like the photos!
I am still a horse addict but also love dogs and cats.
Anne, I love all animals except spiders and ticks…but few animals are as elegant and beautiful as horses. I love the Icelandics – so sturdy, free and still loving characters.
Wonderful photos and very apt quotes
Thank you so much, Sheree! Pets occupy a great deal of my time and heart.
What a beautiful post, A-C. You have a wonderful collection of animals here. Your shots of Iceland (and the horses) are fabulous. The rust/roan color of the horse by the fence is gorgeous! I know a lot of people who would love to have that color hair! I am not surprised you included pictures of Mille and Totti. I know how much you love your dogs.
So glad you liked the post, Patti! And how could I not include my own pets! When it comes to hair colour – I understand people who would die for that colour…
:). :). Of course you have to include Mille and Totti….just like I included Max!!
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Beautiful post, Ann Christine! I still remember your sweet Mille and Totti from your posts. I love these horse photos you captured in Iceland. 🙂 When I saw the link sign, I thought you linked the Pets to my site. Sorry for causing the confusion.
OK, confusion cleared! Thank you!
What a beautiful post A-C; of course the Icelandic horses are amazing but so too are your little lagottos ! I laughed at Mr. Marx’s quote so you get a star for that one :-). I too had a cat that escaped into the road never to be seen again. My dad told me it ran away as he was afraid it would break my heart (it would have!). I only learned many years later that dad found the cat and took care of it so I wouldn’t know. A sad but sweet memory.
Happy to have earned a star, Tina! And I understand your sweet father – maybe that is what really happened to all my lost cats as well? – nobody told me. Some that were run over I found myself.
That would be especially hard AC
It was. I still remember the sight.
Love them all, but the horses most of all (no surprise, I know). Your dogs were/are so adorable and the tail on that first cat is quite something.
janet
I knew you would – in fact I love those horses incredibly much too!
These are all beautiful animals!
Thank you!