Mr. Blythe no doubt would stable his horse. In the spring, summer and fall he would no doubt have him out either riding him or probably at Mr. Blythe's age having the horse attached to the buggy, so he would be getting ample exercise. However, under the snowy conditions Dobbins would be confined to his area in the stable. So good for both of them they would take nice long walks together.

As we know people in that era really took care of their horses, not saying they don't now, but they depended on those horses on a day to day basis.

When I was little my grandpa had his elderly last team. Each day he hitched them up, they walked down to the pasture. You could see they were anxious to go..........When there he had a log that he had fixed so he could hitch them to it. They were anxious to work......That was what they were meant to do in their mind set......He would stand on that log and they would pull it around and around that pasture, just like they were actually working. Kept them exercised and probably added time to their lives.

Charlott on 13th February 2018 @ 7:15am

We just watched PBS's American Experience episode on the Gilded Age. I kept thinking of HHR when photos, both rural and urban, appeared. Every community has pictures like this and we are very fortunate ours are being saved. Thanks!

The Gilded Age episode gives excellent social and political context to HHR photos as to what was happening in the US at the turn of the 19th-20th century.

Arthur, does the museum have old film clips from this time period that might someday be digitized? That would be great!

Kevin Widener on 13th February 2018 @ 8:13am

Charlott......I would guess the exercise was good for both and added years to both. The bonding between human and animal is an amazing experience and one that I have still cherish with some animals over the years.

Arlen Sheldrake on 13th February 2018 @ 9:39am

Save the date you history buffs. Monday, Feb. 26 the museum is hosting a Community Conversation at 2 pm about downtown Hood River. Please come share your memories of people, places and downtown events. The following month we will do the same on March 26 for the Heights so please mark your calendars and join us.

cg on 13th February 2018 @ 10:46am

If there is ever a time in our future, that we are able to meet everyone who ever lived on this earth, I bet I could walk up to Samuel Blythe and say, "Hey, I remember you!"
Of course, he would have to be in his old age with his long white beard.

cg, I hope you have good attendance. Getting people to share their memories is so important. How many of us, wish we would have asked our grandparents more questions, or listened more to their stories.

L.E. on 13th February 2018 @ 12:32pm

This wonderful photo captures an old man and his faithful horse communing without words. They know each other in silence. How precious a capture of a moment in time.

nels on 13th February 2018 @ 8:18pm

Come on down & visit the History Museum, lots of info on HR County pioneers including Mr Blythe & maybe some of your ancestors!

Judy on 14th February 2018 @ 10:07am

Charlott that is a great story about your grandfather and his team.

Barbara Parsons on 13th December 2020 @ 6:54pm

Charlott, your story about your grandfather and his work-oriented horse is priceless. It would make a great children's book--gentle and true. And nothing about zombies in it, I deplore zombies in children's literature and games.

Barbara Parsons on 16th January 2021 @ 5:19pm