FAREWELL, FRIEND
Blue Ox Historic Park's aging ox, Babe, passes away
He was 18 years old, the equivalent of 90 years in people time after struggling with arthritis for months. When he finally could not get up, Blue Ox owners Eric and Viviana Hollenbeck knew it was time. Weighing in at 2,800 pounds and sporting a shoulder height of six feet, Babe looked very intimidating. But he was actually very gregarious, always craving a pet and a grooming and following people from the field if they stopped petting him, they said.
Hundreds of school children and visitors had their pictures taken with Babe. Babe’s brother Blue passed away in 2012. Babe and Blue were born in Loleta and trained by an old-country farmer in the Arcata bottoms. They came to Blue Ox when they were one year old and barely four feet tall. They were part Belgian Blue and already knew the five basic commands. They were oxen, which is a trained steer. Since they were steers and not bulls, and since they were raised with lots of loving attention, they were both very friendly and gentle.
-Times Standard - October 23rd & 24th, 2014
Blue Ox Historic Park's aging ox, Babe, passes away
He was 18 years old, the equivalent of 90 years in people time after struggling with arthritis for months. When he finally could not get up, Blue Ox owners Eric and Viviana Hollenbeck knew it was time. Weighing in at 2,800 pounds and sporting a shoulder height of six feet, Babe looked very intimidating. But he was actually very gregarious, always craving a pet and a grooming and following people from the field if they stopped petting him, they said.
Hundreds of school children and visitors had their pictures taken with Babe. Babe’s brother Blue passed away in 2012. Babe and Blue were born in Loleta and trained by an old-country farmer in the Arcata bottoms. They came to Blue Ox when they were one year old and barely four feet tall. They were part Belgian Blue and already knew the five basic commands. They were oxen, which is a trained steer. Since they were steers and not bulls, and since they were raised with lots of loving attention, they were both very friendly and gentle.
-Times Standard - October 23rd & 24th, 2014
FAREWELL, FRIEND
Blue Ox Historic Park's aging ox, Babe, passes away
He was 18 years old, the equivalent of 90 years in people time after struggling with arthritis for months. When he finally could not get up, Blue Ox owners Eric and Viviana Hollenbeck knew it was time. Weighing in at 2,800 pounds and sporting a shoulder height of six feet, Babe looked very intimidating. But he was actually very gregarious, always craving a pet and a grooming and following people from the field if they stopped petting him, they said.
Hundreds of school children and visitors had their pictures taken with Babe. Babe’s brother Blue passed away in 2012. Babe and Blue were born in Loleta and trained by an old-country farmer in the Arcata bottoms. They came to Blue Ox when they were one year old and barely four feet tall. They were part Belgian Blue and already knew the five basic commands. They were oxen, which is a trained steer. Since they were steers and not bulls, and since they were raised with lots of loving attention, they were both very friendly and gentle.
-Times Standard - October 23rd & 24th, 2014
Blue Ox Historic Park's aging ox, Babe, passes away
He was 18 years old, the equivalent of 90 years in people time after struggling with arthritis for months. When he finally could not get up, Blue Ox owners Eric and Viviana Hollenbeck knew it was time. Weighing in at 2,800 pounds and sporting a shoulder height of six feet, Babe looked very intimidating. But he was actually very gregarious, always craving a pet and a grooming and following people from the field if they stopped petting him, they said.
Hundreds of school children and visitors had their pictures taken with Babe. Babe’s brother Blue passed away in 2012. Babe and Blue were born in Loleta and trained by an old-country farmer in the Arcata bottoms. They came to Blue Ox when they were one year old and barely four feet tall. They were part Belgian Blue and already knew the five basic commands. They were oxen, which is a trained steer. Since they were steers and not bulls, and since they were raised with lots of loving attention, they were both very friendly and gentle.
-Times Standard - October 23rd & 24th, 2014
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