Sea of Cows

I just love it when we get to move lots of cattle but you all know that already. Its even better when the cattle know where they are going!

OPps!

Stud Dud here. Boy OneCowgirl is madd at me. Seems thats my eare in the picture! Sometimes I just get tired of her snapin here there ande everwhere. She pulls up on thosey reins (steering apparatus as we horses call 'em) and expects me to stop so she can take a picture. Well I got her - I just raise my heade and put my ears in her pickture. Pretty clever don't you think?

Rain

It is absolutely amazing what a little rain can do for this country. I won't bore you with cow moving stories today.

Reuniting......

I love it when you can re-unite a momma with her baby. My task was to go move two pair out of the riparian area (it’s a major no no for cattle to be in this area) and into one of the adjoining pastures. Seems the momma’s had escaped thru one of the water gaps with all the recent rains. I saddled up Studley Dudley and off we went with our small task to complete. The first pair took off running when they saw me and then another cow joined them in the run. The mesquite was thick and I am wondering where on earth is second the calf. The pair and the lone cow took off across the dirt road and upto the fence line of one of the pastures. I followed to make sure I knew which direction they where going hoping they were headed toward the closer gate. Then I circled back to look for the calf - thinking well maybe momma has her stashed under a tree for a morning nap. But no sign of the calf. I go back to the cows thinking maybe she’s dry and doesn’t have a calf. Nope she’s got a big full udder. Then I notice momma is near the fence line bellowing out to all the cows and calves in the pasture as if she really has a lot to say but one little calf seems somewhat interested in her bellowing. So, I think well if I move momma down the fence line maybe her baby may follow and then I’ll know for sure if it’s her baby. I try to herd momma toward the other pair and she wants nothing to do with moving away from this particular spot on the fence line. So, I have at least confirmed her calf is on the other side of the fence. Of course, there is not gate nearby and I’ve got to move her down the fence line. Finally, after much conversing with momma – the baby calf follows momma down the fence line. The calf had to cross a ravine which was difficult for the little bugger but he managed – Studley Dudley was incredibly tired of the ravine since he got to cross it multiple times on his side of the fence in the process. I got to the gate, go off and opened the gate, remounted and pushed the pair & caring momma thru the gate!

Moving Cows

Have you ever had the pleasure of rounding up and moving a herd of cows? I must say it is one of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world. Even if it is nothing like you expect and the cows don't cooperate. At times it is very unpredictable. Ok, there are few things I that might choose to do instead like a 10 day African Safari on horseback but other than that I can't think of anything else at the moment. I often wonder if I'll ever be able to just ride a horse for pleasure again without having a mission of some sort ...like riding fence line, checking water lines or hunting for stray cows.

Rain Finally!

Its not often that we get to move cows through water on this ranch! Well there is one small creek behind the house. Can't you tell Hollywood looks really concerned that we may not be able to get all the cows across this raging river! It was the morning of the babysitters club so keeping track of the number pairs was a bit difficult. You do know what a babysitters cow club isn't don't you? Seriously, momma cows will go off and leave with their calves with one momma cow to watch. The largest baby sitters club I've ever seen in one cow and six calves. I think she was licensed.

Phone Booth

Hollywood doesn't like to do phone but this is his phone booth. If he parks his truck just so by the cattle chute he can sometimes get a signal.

Smiley Dog Rules

This Shadow - she earned her name because she follows you around like your very own shadow. I call her Smiley Dog because she likes to show her teeth.

Yippie!!

The word is that later this week we will be moving cows out of my favorite pasture on the ranch! It is a really, really pretty pasture - last year we only had cows in it during the winter but unfortunately, this year because of the drought conditions we hauled some cows back to it a few months ago because it had some forage.

Those Black Dots are Cows!

Sometimes you have to go out and just hunt for one cow.....the task on this day was to find a cow that had prolapsed. It often feels like that you are hunting for a needle in a haystack. We eventually found the cow with her very large calf with the help from jefe. Seems she had decided to start watering at another tank. We brought her in, took her to the vet and she is doing well.

A Little Color in the Desert.....

Did you know that ages ago a National Geographic Photographer used to carry around a red windbreaker to whip out and put on his subjects in the photos - adding a splash of color and perspective with the person in the photo. I just love it when Hollywood wears these Olathe boots - I just can't take enough photos. He orders them from Errol at South Texas Prime Boots. I adore talking to Errol - he has one of those luscious South Texas drawls that is like music to my ears. Hollywood raves about how comfortable his Olathe boots are and he is in the midst of ordering another pair.