Houston horse owner Ben McCleary received a traffic citation for littering earlier this week. But McCleary didn't chuck something out the car window--no, the citation referred to manure left behind by McCleary's horse, Rascal, as the pair traveled along a road. Read the report on MSNBC.

This is an interesting situation--you're riding along the road, your horse does what horses do. Now what? While it might be inconvenient and potentially unsafe to dismount and scatter or remove the pile, I can see the point that a horse-sized pile is no small deposit. Just imagine hitting one on a road bike. Geh.

McCleary is due in court March 11--so we'll see what happens here. The local police chief wouldn't comment, but was looking into the ticket.

Who knows ... maybe we're expected to carry folding shovels and pooper scooper bags when riding along the roadside. Thoughts? What do you do when your horse heeds the call of nature in an inopportune locale?

The Museum of Kent Life isn't looking for just any old donkey whisperer--they need one that speaks Romanian, according to an article from the BBC.

Seeking to liven up their farmyard area, the museum recently added two donkeys--local rescue Ellie, and Romanian import Dora. But now the donkeys don't want to leave their enclosure. They can't even be tempted by a carrot. Staffers hope to eventually offer donkey rides, but they need some help.

So they're asking for a Dr. Dolittle, "preferably one who speaks Romanian," a spokesperson said.

(As a sidenote, the BBC article notes Dora was brought over as indirect result of Romania's ban on horse-drawn carts. Read more about this.)  

Finally, did you know there's a My Little Pony forum? Really!

Inspired by the recent Oscars, just a couple of the work-safe gems of YouTube (turn the volume down or use headphones if you're in cubicle world!).

I'm pretty sure I had this pony.

If you haven't seen him, Patches the Horse is pretty fantastic. (Because someone will ask and many more will wonder: article on horses eating meat.)

Familiar with Thumbelina, the World's Smallest Horse? If not, read the article (and see a link to her Web site--yes, there is a Thumbelina mailing list (and I'm on it--it's amazing); and yes, she does indeed travel in a vehicle called the ThumbyMobile). Anyway, fab little vid.

A stop-action PSA on the importance of wearing a riding helmet. Hilarious. I can even forgive the wear/where confusion. (This link works on about half the computers here and I'm not sure why. If the video doesn't load, try searching [Breyer Jump Off] on youtube. Should be your first result.)

Killer Horse Saves Baby. Yes, really. Well, sort of. Per the description, it's a clip from an 80s Indian movie. I think the real highlight here is the fake horse legs. Readers are invited to invent their own storyline for this one in the comments below--what do you think is going on here?

I know there are plenty more legitimately funny horse-y vids, but searching [horse funny] gives results that are, by and large, ridiculously unfunny (and searching plain old [horse] is plain old disturbing ... seriously). What are some of your favorite work appropriate vids?

(Them other boys don't know how to act.)

So she's not a real Zebra. But when Maybelline, a Zebra statue at Albany's All American Fun Park, went missing, her owner was understandably upset.

"This is very traumatic to me," General Manager Buddie Blackwell told the Albany Herald. "It's time to give me my zebra back."

Pranksters spotted and filched Maybelline from outside the park's shop, where she was parked until a broken hind limb could be repaired. Officials offered $200 for information on the whereabouts of the abducted Zebra.

But fear not--Maybelline returned after a parent of one or both of the culprits called the park with Maybelline's whereabouts. The reward for her safe return was not issued, and no charges were filed.

"I have a feeling their father is going to handle it," Blackwell told the paper.

Two Swiss peeps attempting to ride around the world on donkeys (did they bring scuba equipment?) hit a snag when they attempted to cross the Wagah border from Pakistan into India, according to a report from The Times of India.

Only pets are allowed to cross the border--so the question is, how are donkeys defined in this jurisdiction? This isn't an easy answer--it can vary, depending on who you ask, and where--particularly in the case of miniature equids (a question I get a lot). Turns out officals there weren't certain either.

For now, the donkeys are in custody until the official word comes down from the top.

"As per an act passed by agriculture ministry, the import of livestock through land, especially through Pakistan and Afghanistan, is banned," said Custom commissioner P. K. Singh said. "We have deposited the two animals with the local animal husbandry department hospital and can't take any further action till we get any directives from Delhi."

(In posting this story, I had to check out the location and purpose of the Wagah border. Per Wikipedia, it's a ceremonial line, and the only road border crossing between India and Pakistan. For another reason to do your hamstring stretches, check out this photo.)

Despite their usefulness and the fact that people in many areas of the world depend on them for their very survival, donkeys have an unfortunate ignoble reputation. They're used to represent all sorts of unpleasant things.

In Jordan, a Valentine's Day protestor dressed one up in red cloth and affixed roses to its ears (I don't want to know how) to illustrate his dismay at the celebration of the holiday, according to a news item in the daily al-Dustour, discussed on MonstersandCritics.com.

"The move is intended to send a clear message to all that celebrating Valentine's Day is strange to our religion, traditions and culture," Ayman Quaider told the paper.

Different area of the world, same basic idea, and--bonus--also involving a donkey. (Don't miss the last line: "But a group calling themselves the “Consortium of Pub-going, Loose and Forward Women” responded robustly to the extremists’ campaign by sending them boxes containing pink knickers as a Valentine’s Day gift.")

Earlier this month, 15 people were arrested after investigators with the Los Angeles Border Enforcement Security Task Force discovered $1.5 million worth of marijuana hidden in a shipment of concrete donkey yard statues.

Now, there are at least two potential puns here. And I'm happy to report that MSNBC got not one but both them--and huge bonus points for putting them right in the headline! Snaps!

Granted, "drug mule" is pretty obvious. But "Donkey Kong," brilliantly morphed to "Donkey Bong"? Best headline award for the week, hands down.

(I was tempted to use this as the lead, with a headline utilizing "it's on like Donkey Bong," but frankly wasn't sure if it's recognizable enough. For future reference, "on like Donkey Kong" is a phrase used to express enthusiasm for an upcoming big event. Urban Dictionary's top-rated definition is "Used to describe it's on and time to party big time.")

PSA: The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating after eight eagles became ill or died after feeding on a euthanized horse that was not buried promptly, The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports.

Bald eagles are considered a "sensitive species" in most states. Department officials said they're trying to contact the owner of the horse.

Just something to keep in mind: "Anything that's euthanized with a drug needs to be buried or rendered," (Fish and Wildlife Officer Bruce) Richards said. "Even burying them--unless you went really deep, birds and coyotes can dig them up."

Within the office collection of blogs, there's a gem called "Tracking Barbaro's Brothers." This BloodHorse.com blog by coworker Amanda follows the progress of Barbaro's little brothers, Nicanor and Lentenor (and their sire, dam, and soon-to-be-born sibling). While it might seem far away from TheHorse.com's usual fare, the blog is actually produced just across the office cubicle aisle. So I tend to hear quite a bit about it.

... And what's going on currently is simply brilliant. Amanda gave her readers a Valentine's Day challenge--write a haiku for Nicanor. The results have been delightful.

So, readers. Here's your challenge: let's get some springtime horse-y haikus going.

Ice storm, now thunder
Almost spring in Kentucky
Time to write haiku

Horse looks like a yak
Wherefore art thou, shedding blade?
Show beast under there

Almost time to wash
Muddy gray horse will be clean
Smell of detangler

Pull tack from closet
Saddle calls for Neatsfoot drink
Polish to a shine

Hay belly on horse
Erin needs to run 5K
To fit in show boots

Readers tell me yours
Haiku goes 5-7-5
Syllables of spring

Hit comment below
OK to count on fingers
How is spring for you?