At Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, we are privileged to have the "Hooves, Horns and Hoss" mascot program. This special program - which features Texas longhorns, draft horses, miniature donkeys, alpacas and a Newfoundland named Hoss - woos and wows guests and groups through meet-and-greets, photo ops, property tours in our rustic red wagon and much more. Our miniature donkeys and alpacas make their home in the Lost Pines Corral, while the rest of the mascot team joins them Wednesday through Saturday. All guests are encouraged to stop by the corral to meet, admire and be entertained by these friendly creatures.

Hoss
Hoss is our official resort mascot and the team captain of Hooves, Horns and Hoss program. A black and white (Landseer) Newfoundland, Hoss was born on Sept. 13, 2009 in Falls City, Nebr. On Nov. 29, 2010, he graduated from Triple Crown Dog Academy in Hutto, Texas, with degrees in obedience and advanced off-leash training. A Hyatt Regency Lost Pines team member since December 2010, the 140-pound Hoss is often seen strolling around the property making friends with guests and hanging around his "ranch house" overlooking Riversong Lawn. His summer home is the resort lobby, where he regularly seeks refuge atop a breezy air-conditioning vent. Among his favorite resort indulgences are grilled chicken from Lost Pines chefs and scoops of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream from McDade's.

There are many conflicting stories as to the origin of the Newfoundland. Some say the dog descended from the Great Pyrenees or French hound, but nearly all agree that this breed originated in Newfoundland. This large working breed was brought there from the European continent by fisherman and used to pull nets, haul wood from the forest and power bellows for blacksmiths. The Newfoundland is a master at long-distance swimming and has lifesaving instincts in the water. In fact, history credits a Newfoundland for saving Napoleon Bonaparte when he fell overboard on his way back to France from exile. Unlike other breeds, these dogs move their webbed feet and limbs in a down-and-out motion that gives them additional power with every stroke. They also possess a heavy double coat that insulates and protects them from icy water, and their coats can be black, brown, gray, or black and white (Landseer). Equally at home in the water and on land, Newfoundlands take part in confirmation; obedience; agility; tracking; draft and water tests; and carting competitions. Sweetness of temperament is a hallmark of this breed, making them among the best canine companions for children - likely the reason why Nana, the caretaker in Peter Pan, was a Newfoundland.

Julius and Caesar, King and Lady
Percheron draft horses King, Lady, Julius and Caesar can be seen leading complimentary wagon rides around the property and now and again getting new shoes at LBJ Pavilion.   

Black Percherons Julius and Caesar began their Hyatt careers in 2000 at Hyatt Regency Tamaya in New Mexico, transferring to Hyatt Regency Lost Pines in Texas in 2006. Before joining the Lost Pines mascot lineup, Julius worked for a living and Caesar looked good for a living. Caesar was born May 2, 1994 in Springfield, Ohio and trained as a show horse. Julius was born June 10, 1993 in Wray, Colo. and used as a plow horse. Both Julius and Caesar stand 17-3 hands tall and weigh in at more than 2,000 pounds each. They're the ultimate driving horses, turning heads with their good looks and regal style.

King and Lady are dapple grey Percherons who joined the team in April 2011. Born in Iowa in 2006, King is playful and spirited and loves to run; meanwhile, Lady, who was born in Kentucky in 2004, is the down-to-earth thinker who keeps the couple on the straight and narrow. This duet made their way to Texas by way of Jamesport, Mo., where they were trained as a driving team by an Amish farmer. They are saddle-broke for riding on trails and into resort ballrooms for the sake of a grand entrance. King stands 18 hands tall, Lady tops out at 18-1 hands, and each weighs bout 1,800 pounds. Their dream? To be promoted when Julius and Caesar retire.

As with any ancient race, the Percheron breed is shrouded in myth, for the foundations of the breed precede pedigrees and extensive documentation by several centuries. Used in the middle ages by knights as war and jousting horses, the breed derives its name from its cradle of Le Perche, France. Today, Percherons are part of the draft horse family that includes Clydesdales, Belgians, Shires and American Cream. Pleasing in disposition, they are proud, alert, intelligent and willing workers with the ability to adapt easily to varying climates and conditions. Percherons are usually black or grey, but there are also sorrels, bays, roans and more. These draft horses range in height from 15 to 19 hands high, with most topping out between 16-2 and 17-3 hands. They can weigh up to 2,600 pounds, averaging around 1,900 pounds. Percherons are noted for heavy muscling in the lower thighs, which gives them unusual ruggedness and power, boasting the strength to pull heavy loads as well as the finesse to guide a fine carriage gracefully.

T-Bone and Ribeye
Registered Texas longhorns, T-Bone (left) and Ribeye (right) are half-brothers and Lost Pines colleagues. Ribeye was born Jan. 8, 2007, and T-Bone was born Feb. 11, 2007. When they turned one, their horns measured just 25 inches long. Today, their horns span more than six feet with the potential to grow to seven feet over the course of their lifetime. Affectionately known as Sweet T and Ribby, these steers launched their Hyatt careers in the summer of 2007, participating in the resort's continuing education program and completing saddle school in 2009. Not only do they come when called, T-Bone and Ribeye are unusual because they are saddle-broke and can be ridden like horses. Guests can find them at the Lost Pines Corral or hanging out by the hitching posts beside the lobby's back porch, providing matchless photo ops and lasting memories. The longhorn is believed to originate from the voyages of Christopher Columbus, who first brought the Spanish longhorn cattle to the Americas in 1493. The English, in colonizing North America, also brought their native cattle to the New World in 1623. The English and Spanish cattle began intermingling to develop the longhorn breed. Intelligent and gentle, these animals can be trained to ride, drive and do tricks. They are naturally curious, tough to spook, adaptable to new experiences - plus, they'll eat just about anything. As a breed, they are more disease-resistant and live longer than other cattle with the ability to reproduce from their late teens into their early twenties. Longhorn mothers (females with borne calves) are known to have the longest and most beautiful horns.
 
Captain, Trooper, Yogi and Boo Boo
Rounding out the mascot team is this quartet of fun: alpacas Yogi and Boo Boo and miniature donkeys Captain and Trooper.

Captain and Trooper came into the world and the mascot team in 2011. Trooper thinks he is the boss, but the truth is no one has had the heart to tell him Captain is really the leader of their two-pack. If their breakfast is delayed, they will bray as their handlers' cowboy hats come into view, knowing their meal is en route! Their shared hobbies include long walks, face time with guests, rough-housing, playing tag and playing tether ball on their own private court inside the Lost Pines Corral. This donkey duo will also work for hire, hosting tequila tastings in conjunction with resort servers - packing into resort parties and events with saddlebags stocked with shot glasses.

Yogi was born in 2011 and Boo Boo in 2009, and both alpacas joined the mascot program in 2011. Boo Boo has earned himself a reputation for being cheeky, and by "cheeky" we mean that he occasionally will acquiesce to give guests a peck on the cheek through the fence. Yogi is a typical youngster, very shy like Bambi, with long eyelashes and an apparent longing to be a big brave boy. When not loafing and snacking in the Lost Pines Corral, Yogi and Boo seize opportunities to go for rides in resort elevators.

MEDIA CONTACT
Martin Armes
T +1 919 608 7260
E martinarmes@nc.rr.com


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