Animals Are Our Equals

2008-11-06T11:52:00.003Z

Meet Charlie

2008-11-06T11:33:00.002Z

No not Charlie Brown, but Charlie Black & White - Charles or HRH. He's not mine, he's next doors - but he spends a hell of a lot of time with me. Comes inside, sits & claws on my lap, follows me everywhere like a little dog! He's a mouser not a birder, he's also a rabbiter & a ratter - a feral cat once but now so tame & so friendly!

The Girls

2007-09-18T11:04:00.000Z

New Boys

2007-05-08T20:25:00.000Z

New once, now probably no more as they went off to market a few days ago

My Girl, Cowslip

2007-02-23T22:57:00.000Z

This picture is now almost 15 years old - the first cows I knew - including Cowslip with her white face - I can't believe so much time has passed since, yet she's still fresh in my memory

New Pictures

2007-02-07T21:08:00.001Z

So photogenic! I love them!

Designer Cows - And They Won Awards Too!

2007-01-25T22:43:00.000Z

A Devon County Show - Somewhere and sometime ago!

Flexible Cow

2007-01-23T15:54:00.000Z

Belgium Blue, Devon

Cottage Cows

2007-01-16T23:20:00.000Z

Cowslip's Field, our cottage in the background in Devon, 2000

White, Pink & Blue Goes Very Well!

2007-01-12T22:29:00.000Z

Charolais at a West County Show

Same Faces From Yesterday

2007-01-11T21:02:00.000Z

White Faces & Blue Skies

2007-01-10T19:46:00.000Z

I remember taking this picture in Devon and thinking what a perfect composition with the sun, clouds, blue skies and their white faces!

Moo to the Camera

2007-01-09T21:32:00.000Z

Like every cow picture on this blog, they are all taken in Devon mostly in Cowslip's Field

Yes, That IS A Big Bull!

2007-01-08T21:39:00.000Z

Bull from Pinkhill Farm, Merton, Devon (just across the otherside of the main road A386 from our beautiful cottage, surrounded by fields rich of grass and buttercups. Paradise.

Funny Face

2007-01-07T16:34:00.000Z

For those you know me, note the three Scots Pine in background, top right

Smile to the Camera

2007-01-06T22:48:00.000Z

So Placid - Don't You Think?

2007-01-06T00:16:00.000Z

Devon Cows - Pre Foot & Mouth - Did They Change? Yes

2007-01-04T20:54:00.000Z

Heavy Horses Show at Huish, Merton, Devon August 2006

2006-09-24T13:57:00.000Z

Sufolk Punch

Sufolk Gentle Giants

Canal Shires

Ardennes Shire note as owner looks like horse!

Wiltshire

Belgium Draft Horse - only 10 in the UK

Rare in this country but in France 75,000 a year slaughtered for their meat

Wiltshire

Common as muck shire (!)

The North Devon Show 2nd August Miseclanious

2006-08-06T14:26:00.000Z

Why the chicks were sitting in their food bowl, I don't know!

It could have been because of this guy above, quite a mean looking falcon, but his tent was far away from the chicks! Him and his travelling companions below:

Yes, a Barn Owl!

These hoot in our woods in Devon

An English Bull Terrior, I've ALWAYS wanted one of these!

I have no idea what the breed was but they were VERY cute!

A Great Dane - who I fell in love with and saw over 5 times around the show ground!

Now I think these dogs were used to hunt otters as they have webbed feet

I'll have one of these too - a St Bernard

The North Devon Show 2nd August The Horses and Shires

2006-08-06T11:44:00.000Z

Now I've never liked riding horses, I've always found it very unfair to them and disrespectful for the animal. These horses were stunning and it's the first time I've ever seen them in this context. Each one took it in their stride, as it was the most normal thing to do (they could teach the cows and sheep a thing or two!)

The one of the left, I think, is called Ziggy. They come from a small hamlet called Chittlehampton, near South Molton which is Exmoor way and they help out on the farm, ploughing the fields - which was once the only manner of transpot used on farms.

I am always in awe of these gentle giants. I stood up close to run and stroked his muzzle and he looked me in the eye and gave a smile! They are seriously beautiful and I want one!

The North Devon Show 2nd August The Sheep

2006-08-06T11:25:00.000Z

I really think that sheep have characters and LOVE to be photographed!

I fell in love with this sheep as soon as I saw her, I have NO idea what the breed is and I reckon not many people would like the look or the feel of their heads, but this one was so affectionate, probably because she had been ignored by people due to her 'ugliness' I made it ALL better!

Yes, this IS a sheep, it's called a Border Lescister!

I'm asleep, I've had a LONG day

Didn't you hear me?!

Oh, alright then, I'll come and see you (he was the sweetest ram I've EVER met!)

The North Devon Show 2nd August The Cows

2006-08-06T11:02:00.000Z

Which one is the bull?

The cows showground

Heroford

First prize to the young heroford bull (by far the best looking animal in the whole show)

The bulls' Mrs!

The Devon red judging

Oh there he is again, isn't he fine?!

The Devon Red or Red Rubies

One naughty calf who became frisky and charged into a group of children (luckily no-one was hurt) Plus the boy leading him was useless!

The judging

The winner

Ditto

Limousan. . . a little hot and bothered

Limousan Bull

Belgium Blues

Belgium Blue Calves

Aberdeen Angus Bull

Limousan cow and mother and small boy!

The Royal Cornwall Show 8th - 10th June 2006

2006-06-15T13:22:00.000Z

I went with my friend Sue to the show on the friday. A baking hot day and I took over 200 photographs and 30 short 30 second films of the animals. It is certainly the supreme County show including everything and anything, from cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, pigeons, caged birds, dogs and rare breeds to flowers, agricultural machinery, new cars/lorries/tractors. Tents upon marquees featuring local produce, health and beauty, crafts, home interiors, farm produce, you name it and not to mention a lovely old steam fair, with proper merry go round, helter skelter, big wheel etc. Over 90 acres large and 120,00 people across the three days. Sue and I had a great time and we got very burnt from the sun!

So to the animals (they're the important ones!):

Champion Holstein

Holstein

Even with the heat, there's still a chance for a quick lick and cuddle!

It's a family affair!

Hereford Bull

Ayrshire

Holstein

Charolais

Holstein - It all got too much, it was very hot in the sheds!

Ditto

For cow breeds, click here

I'm not good with pig breeds

(so here's a link that is. . . Click here)

A Sufolk Ram, pretending to be a cat!

Blackface

Zwartble (yes, there is a sheep breed called that!)

Dorset Down (& a little bit of a charactor!)

Devon & Cornwall Longwool

No idea!

Not sure, could be a Brecknock Hill Cheviot (French then!)

Erm. . . no idea, sorry, but lovely anyway!

Hampshire Down, I think!

My what big ears you have! No idea, any suggestions?

To look up sheep breeds of Uk, click here

Mad

Show legs!

This can't be serious, can it?

Main Ring and main prizes

Red Devon Bull in main ring

Wow! Plus two more shows coming up in the next 6 weeks. The North Devon Show and The Okehampton County Show. Of course I'll be there and of course I'll be taking pictures. As for the cow situation in Devon there are none in the field (just got back to London from 4 weeks in Devon) so at the moment there are no new pictures to post. But I will be back soon for a look at the older photographs and other ones including sheep and cats!

Emy x

Hornwort Summer 2005

2006-05-16T10:13:00.000Z

Welcombe & Hornwort

The Gate Pose

Hornwort and Hen

Up close with Hornwort and friends

How Can You Eat Me? I'm Beautiful. . .

2006-05-08T18:41:00.000Z

Summer 2003

2006-05-07T15:33:00.000Z

Hornwort

Famous Gate Pose (photoshop)

Cob

These are some pictures from the summer of 2003, that glorious, hot summer and one that I'll never forget. Here came one very special individual who I called 'Hornwort' (the first picture).

Every herd of cattle, whether it's a huge herd or small, there's always a leader and Hornwort was the boss! But he wasn't immediately tame, it took some working on him to gain my trust which I finally achieved after a week or so. That evening, the sun was going down, the birds singing and millions of flies buzzing around and he and I stood by the gate. I was talking to him while giving him hazel leaves when suddenly he came very close to me and started to lick my hand and then he let me stroke him, and all of a sudden he was nudging me and pushing his head against my hand. It was a wonderful moment. Soon we were best friends and he always came up to see me (I didn't go into the field that year, they were all big and powferful - I was a little nervous). I spent 6 weeks that year with him and of course when I left I was distraught. I still dream of him sometimes and still cry over him at my most low. He was special to me.

Someone left a comment yesterday on this blogs first post, asking if all these cows were free. I wish they were. All of these animals are bred for either beef or breeding. After the long summer months outside, they are taken out of the field, either to be kept and fattened up during the winter or sold straight to market and eventually to be slaughtered. A cows life is a short one, two and half years I think is the most they're kept for. They travel hundreds of miles all around the country, changing hands and usually they are slaughtered a long, long way from home. Each animal has a 'passport' and every time they are moved the passports have to be kept up to date. One mistake and they have to be destroyed outright. They are slaves to human kind and I keep saying, once I've made my fortune (yeah, when?!) I'll set up a huge organic farm in Devon and save as many as I can. Then they would be free. Free to live out their 'long' lives with me.

Summer of 2005

2006-05-01T20:20:00.000Z

My. . .What a big tongue you have!

The only way is forward

These lot were last Summers. 2005. I only spent 2 weeks in Devon then as I was doing my MA and we had no summer holiday. The reason I was there was to film timelapse films of Scots Pine (my project for the MA) and I didn't get a chance to know these ones. They were beautiful though and I felt that I had been cheated out of knowing them better. So 'no names' were given, just their memory in photographs.

The Girls

2006-04-24T18:54:00.000Z

Bella and new born

Looe and Bow

Dusk (Big cow to get close to!)

Dusk

Looe

Dusk

Dawn and Dusk (Best Friends)

Bow and Noire

Cow Love

Dusk and Bow

Bow, Noire and Bella

This is Summer 1999. And the first time with a field of pregnant cows. Looe had difficulty giving birth on her own so we had to call the farmer and then my Dad and I helped pull the calf out. Plus they didn't like me being in the field so much, they were very protective of their young, but they got used to me and only if I didn't come in between them and their calves. 4 calves were born in no more then a week. It was a hot, lazy Summer and it was this year that I first really got into photography. The pictures were more thought out, especially the long ones and always the animals were very photogenic! Also the names were getting better. Looe was named after a fishing village in Cornwall and Bow a small town in West Devon. Again they would come to the gate for fresh leaves and grass and I would walk down with them all following behind. I really miss those days, I'm hoping this year it'll be like old times!

Emy x

2006-04-24T10:16:00.000Z

Just Testing

Summer Cows

2006-04-23T18:43:00.000Z

Just a picture for today, more serious blogging on the 'cow' subject tomorrow, so here's a picture to wet your appetites! E x

For those who know me, do you recognise the pines above?

Cowslip

2006-04-20T17:37:00.000Z

Lynton

Lynton & Clover

Fremmington & Freezer

Cowslip, Lilac & Cinnamon

Clover, Lilac & Cinnamon

Cinnamon

Cowslip. . .don't you want to stroke her?

Today, I'd like to introduce you to my first ever group of cows I knew.

The photographs above are also my first ever photographs of cows.

And I still remember their names: Cowslip, Lynton, Clover, Cinnamon, Freezer, Lilac, Fremmington, Jet & Lavender. They were the forerunners. My first experience of cows, feeling close to them, walking around the field with them following close behind. I gave them bunches of leaves and fresh grass from the neighbouring field. They came and sat down when I did, got up when I did and then chased me round the field and I chased them! Some were mixed Charolais, one a Devon Red and one a Fresian as there were 2 calves in the field needing milk. I wasn't sure who the calves belonged to, I guessed it was Clover.

Cowslip was my true friend. I was 13 at the time, alone with my parents in Devon and I think she knew that. We became very close and I gave her her name 'Cowslip' (she didn't complain).
Every morning I would call her name across the gate and usually she would be at the end and her head would go up, she'd see me and then come galloping up! I used to climb over the gate and sit down, leaning against the gate and she would put her head to mine and press gently, head to head and stay like that for sometime. It was truely magical. I really felt honoured. A full grown cow, wanting to spend her time with little old me!

Leaving them was hard. It was that summer that I finally had to stop eating beef. I kept imagining that any steak I had since would have been Cowslip. I don't remember a tearful goodbye, I don't even remember the goodbye. At that time I wasn't aware that I might not see her again. So we left in the last week of August. But we were back in November. I searched for her, my God, did I search for her and I found her! A mile away in a different field with Clover, Cinnamon, Lynton and Lilac. It was raining hard and she was with another herd of cows. I stood by the gate and called her name. Within an instance, her head shot up and she came running! I'll never forget that. She remembered me, she recognised my voice and she recognised me. She nudged me and head-butted me and mooed gently in my ear! That was the last time I saw her. But her picture is still on my bed side table, as it always will be, years from now. Sometimes I dream about her, but not lately. It's been a long, long time now, but I still remember her VERY well.

Oh dear, this all brings tear to my eyes. I'll stop there for tonight.

Emy x

IT'S HERE . . . . . . . . . . .

2006-04-19T17:20:00.000Z

Big Boy, Devon, Summer,1995

I won't even begin to describe to you how long this has taken me!!!!

But nevermind all that.

Welcome to my 'Animals Are Our Equals' blogsite.

On this site tonight are some very old pictures of some of the first cows I knew over 10 years ago and over this week I'll be introducing you to the field, the wood and the flowers, not to mention the starring roles of the cows. Some names I remember, some I've forgotten.

The lovely white faced lady to the right is my first true love. The first Summer when we had the cottage in Devon. 'Cowslip' I called her and she has been with me ever since (well. I feel her with me) and her framed photograph along with two more have been on my bedside table for many, many years.

The profile picture is of Hornwort, a very hansome bullock I knew Summer 2003. He again is very special. Him and Big Boy above.

No more words, time for introductions:

Old Chapel Cottage, Devon & Heifer, 1996

Photogenic Beasts

The Typical Gate Pose

The Wood at the End

The Hazel Branches

That's it for tonight, many more to come tomorrow and thereafter. I'm bushed!

E x