Hi All, So today while riding we rode up on or alongside a large Texas Rattler!  Luckily, he was rattling and slithering away. Our new dog Olive didn’t know what to make of this, and was easy to call off. But Shorty the queen of heelers was on it.  She tore out after that snake and was extremely lucky to escape without being bitten.  I’ve already experienced having one dog and one horse bitten, and let me tell you anti-venom is very expensive.  So, the dogs will both need their snake shots before we will ride out again.  I also protect the horses with support boots that have plastic outer shells and bell boots.  This covers the lower part of the leg that is most susceptible to snake bites.  I sure hope it works!  Shorty has even gone to snake avoidance training but to no avail.  The dog trainer had a snake and he put a shock collar on Shorty to deter her.  The shock collar did not have the desired effect.  The trainer kept increasing the voltage until he was giving her enough volts to deter a 150 lb. Labrador, and she still wouldn’t back off.  She was just so determined to get that snake! Well, Shorty still charges after snakes, and now also hates dog trainers!  Ride on, and watch out for snakes. Carrie