Thorp, the bull of the Middle Herd and Tornado, the bull of the Yearling Herd, share a cross fence. The Back Herd is in their own little paradise and doesn’t have to put up with these two herds. Patriot runs his herd just fine.
For the most part, the Yearling and the Middle Herds do just fine with each other also. But once in a while there is that “gathering at the cross fence” that makes one wonder if it is going to turn ugly.
The gathering took place a few weeks back. It started off pretty nice. They both just looked at each other and walked up and down the fence line a few times. Keeping in step with each other…what a sight! Now, like any Mother of boys knows, sometimes things start off just like playing a game and then suddenly it jumps into a ruckus!
Being a Mother of four boys, I have been well trained in how this little “game” goes. I kept my eye on the bulls waiting to see how long peace would reign. Peace lasted for quite a while, actually longer than I thought. Even though both bulls are not fighters unless it is with strangers, the peace finally broke.
I’m not sure who stuck their head over the fence first but I do know that Tornado looked as if he was peaceful. Thorp was doing the “pushing the dirt up” with his front feet first. Then Tornado started adding the dirt that was on his side of the fence.
The next thing I knew two wires on the fence were broken and both bulls backed up and away from each other. Almost like one of those, “I didn’t do it” moments. When the wires broke, the fight that almost was…was over! They both turned and walked away. The Red Oak Ranch loves the peaceful times!!
