I turned 67 this past Saturday, and was feeling sad and old. So, I went down to the Kudzu place to shoot doves for the last time this year, Nothing wams the heart and cheers the soul like thew sound of shotguns! Scott's nephews got in the last of the cotton while we were there, Everything else had already been harvested. So, me and the old lady decided to spend the night, and me and Scott decided to move the cattle off the Kudzu place to the 450- acres of cropland across the road Sunday morning. Scott has 3 very good cow horses...every bit as good as mine.( Well, I did sell then to him years ago
) We got up early, and I put my ole lady on one of them. Scott's old lady rode her MFT, and we put Zeke and this big ole black TWH we use for bird hunting. We haltered Gail and the Brah/Chi-Angus/Corriente steer that Zeke has been making a pet of. He has it to where he can sit on it while it laying there chewing his cud, while he sings to it. Lord, Zeke has turned into a Waylon and Conway fan, and spends all day singing their songs. He is actually quite good, too! But that's another story..
Anyway, me,. Scott and Terri rode on to the Kudzu pasture, while Scott's wife and Zeke led those two down there to meet us. Me and Scott were kinda sad, because I think we both realized this was probably our last round up together. He can hardly get on and off, but still rides well once he's in the saddle. The cattle were in back of the 220 acres, of course. We called the man that bought the 3/4 MF bull and those 10 Plummer x Jersy heifers bred to the Corriente, that I sold him,. and told him it was time to come get them....that they were gonna be in our corral, because we were moving every thing across the road. We told him if he didn't want to get them today, they would be in a 450 acre field with no working pens, etc. He said he couldn't right now, and asked Scott if we could just move them with the others on that 450 acres. Scott agreed, but told him when we move everything back in February at the end of quail/rabbit season, they had to get GONE! Zeke's other 3 dairy cows were in there, and those 10 heifers are petting-zoo gentle, so Scott and Terri got those started walking down the fence toward the road where the corral is. I rode drag, herding those Plummer cows, A few had a contrary moment or two, but I was well mounted, and they would give up easy and take off after the other cattle. This was the easiest time we have ever moved a herd over there, with no help but Zeke and the girls! When we got down to the gate, I told Zeke and Scott's wife to just keep on leading Gail and the steer down the road to the fields. Terri and Scott just rode beside the heifers, which followed along behind those 2 as calm as could be. My high-headed Plummers blew and snorted some, but fell right in behind the rest as nice as you please. Brahmas can be as easy to handle as Holstein milk cows at a dairy, if you don't ever get them nervous and excited, and don't get them to running. They all do a lot better working them horse back instead of on foot. They don't seem to get as spooky that way. If you
do ever let them go to running, you best be well mounted enough and horseman enough to stop them or rope them or turn them...whatever you were trying to do. If they beat you or get away from you one time, they learn they can do it every time. But, if you thwart their efforts, they seem to learn that it don't work, and may not try it again. Or, they may!
When we got to the gate, I told Zeke and Tootie (the nick name I call Scott's wife) , to ride out in the pasture a little way, then jump down and take those halters off Gail and the steer. I was afraid once the Plummers came through the gate, they may take off running. And they did for a little piece. Scott and Terri stood their horses in the road so that they would all go in the gate. and that was that! When we got back to Scott's, we sent Zeke back with some salt blocks in the Gator. 1st of December, they will take Gail back up to the lot at Mattie;s house to calve. Other than that, we are done fooling with cattle til February! From now to then, it is just beagles and bird dogs, gaited horses, and quail and rabbits on my mind!
Or is it skill ? Warren does it again !
