by Jan Fielden
Another exciting round-up, load-em-up time at the Red Oak Ranch! This one was a doozie just like so many of the others. The Back Herd is like a problem child. They can be very sweet but sometimes they act up and you wonder where they came from! The really mean calves have all been from the Back Herd. But most all concerned thought the two mean ones were the meanest of the mean!
We have walked among this herd and never feared any of them. But like some cows when they get worked or put in a pen; they get nervous and they act up. This was unlike any other acting up…more like a tag team in a wrestling match! The Momma cow of one of the heifers went bonkers for whatever reason…known only to her. She was beating up on the other calves in the trap and ran one of the men helping us up the gate. Finally got her in a pen, the first pen and she once again snorted and was carrying on until she got her head stuck in the chute. It is flat metal and she couldn’t figure out how to get her head out. The Colonel hit her with the hot shot and told her if she didn’t turn her head sideways she would probably die. Finally, she turned her head. She was worked and let out in the open. She is Buffalo Bound.
This Momma’s daughter was almost as bad…lessons learned from her Momma! When she got in the pen she tried to jump over the top of it. The Colonel thought she was going to get her legs caught on top of the pen. The Colonel had high hopes for her, he was going to put her through the Yearling Program but she lost out on that. Her face and nose were bloody because of her shenanigans and she not only was Buffalo Bound, she was taken straight to Buffalo. The Red Oak Ranch is peaceful again.
