by Jan Fielden
Watch when you go through a gate, any gate, and do not talk going through a gate even if there are no cows around! I drove through the gate into the paddock for Sundance to give her oats and hay without having to walk so far carrying hay. The Colonel was with me and we were talking. The gate did not get closed as I thought he would close it and he thought I would close it. I called Sundance to come up for her supper, but she didn’t come right away.
The Colonel thought he would call her with his “call” to help me out. He knew she was with the Yearling Herd and where they all were. So, I hear him issuing his cow call and I thought he will have all the cows coming up, but I never thought about the gate still being open because I thought he closed it. I got done putting out the oats and the hay, came out of the stable and what did I see?! Cows, lots of cows coming into the area. The cows were going everywhere, and I was chasing them. Some went in the stable and came out with hay hanging out of their mouths. I got them all out of the stable and turned the other cows around to go to where The Colonel was so he could let them out. Some of them made circles in the paddock so I got a lot of leg action; start, stop, start, jump!
I finally got them all rounded up, pushed up to the gate, and they were let out. I turned and there was “Sarah” the lead cow and SOS one of the bulls. I kept calling “Sarah, Sarah” get over here but finally realized she didn’t know her name! Resorting to slapping my gloves together I got her turned and out and next came SOS. Sundance had stood all this time just watching the cows. I walked her down to the stable and there was still plenty of hay left which surprised me, and I was so glad. It was a moment of laughter after it was all over and reminded us of the fun we have on the Red Oak Ranch
