Home on the Range

Cows have been a part of my life since I was a girl.  When I was about 12, Daddy bought 25 registered angus cows.  They and their calves were a part of my life until I went away to college.  I remember well our first calf, a bull named Prince.  My brother and I led him around like a puppy, even when he was full-grown and the sire of our small herd.  

Daddy gave Allan and me each a heifer,with the understanding that their calves would be sold to help fund our college tuition.  Allan, as I recall dutifully put his money away.  

I, on the other hand, talked Mother and Daddy into letting me buy a horse with mine.  Bonnie, a four-year-old quarter horse mare, helped me survive my teenage years, and also gave us five foals that helped fund my college education.  

I well remember our first cows and all they taught me.  In the beginning, Allan was too young for most chores, but I was Daddy’s right-hand.  One of my most vivid memories is the birth of twin calves to a big, black cow called Fuzz-top because of a tuft of hair on top of her head.  When she calved, those two healthy youngsters were hungry, but Fuzz-top’s udder was so full and her teats so sore that she couldn’t stand for them to nurse.  For several days, Daddy and I (and probably Mother, too) had to tie the cow’s head to the fence, as well as one of her hind legs, while her calves nursed.  Getting her secured was always a rodeo, but well worth the effort.  After a few days, she accepted both calves and had plenty of milk to raise them.

Today’s cow adventure, however, took my cowgirl experiences to a new level.  It revolves around one of our favorite cows, ten-year-old Red Cow, an angus/bonsmara cross tipping the scales at well over 1000 pounds.  She is calm and gentle, has beautiful calves, and is one of our favorites.

Last year shortly before Red Cow calved, she developed a vaginal prolapse.  This condition generally occurs before calving when the increased size of the uterus puts pressure in the abdomen and causes the ligaments in the pelvic region to relax.  This may allow the vaginal tissue to prolapse, or bulge outward.  Last year, Red Cow had a mild prolapse, which resolved itself in a few hours.  

This year, however, has been different.  Her calf is due soon, and she is enormous!  In fact, we are being overly cautious since she lost twin calves several years ago when her labor took too long and they did not survive.  Yesterday we noticed Red Cow had begun to prolapse.  We hoped the condition would again resolve itself, but by this morning the prolapse was noticeably larger.  And so began another adventure.

We consulted our how-to cow books and called a veterinarian friend for advice.  Then we went to work.  I have been up close and personal with our cows before…in particular several years ago when I spent a large portion of the evening crouched mostly under one of our cows helping her calf learn to nurse.  Granted, she was confined in the chute, but I was within reach of one of her large hind feet if she decided to kick.  Fortunately she did not.  

Replacing Red Cow’s vaginal prolapse wasn’t easy, but she was cooperative and didn’t try to kick us.  Once it was tucked safely inside, John put in two sutures to hold the vulva together and hopefully prevent further problems.  Quite a tidy job, don't you think?  We will have to watch her closely in order to cut the sutures when she goes into labor.  We hope it’s not too long!  In the meantime, she is in the lot with one of her sisters, a bale of hay and plenty of water.  

As a girl, I always pictured myself galloping across the prairie like Dale Evans, with perfect hair, hat in place and a bandana around my neck.  This for-real cowgirl stuff is quite different, but I wouldn’t trade it.  

Welcome Cousin Annie

What a great morning!  Cousin Kathy joined us for an early walk, and the Bagley Pack got to meet their new cousin, Annie Cash-Vanderbeck.  

A good time was had by all, with lots of running, swimming, sniffing, and of course, treats.  

Welcome, Annie, we look forward to many more good times together, and can’t wait for you to get acquainted with the rest of your dog cousins.

SeptemberFest

 

Saturday was SeptemberFest in Cranfills Gap.  Last year’s occasion was canceled due to Covid, so the community was especially thankful to be able to enjoy today’s festivities.

A parade kicked off the celebration.  (Thanks to John and several friends who took and shared photos and videos!)  As a member of the newly-organized Bosque County Stick Horse Riding Club, I met with the group to get ready for our parade performance.  Our ponies were in their “barn.”

The riders were getting ready to mount up.

First came the flag bearers.

There were other attractions, as well, including cheerleaders; 

the football team;

church groups; 

4-H and FFA floats;

and the Old Mares’ Uber which was there in case someone needed a ride.

Then, soon after, we mounted up and joined the parade.

Our repertoire included figure eights and the “wagon wheel.”  

(My parade pony was an appaloosa.)

And, if you haven’t seen enough by now, here is a video of part of our performance.  It’s not our full repertoire; I was afraid you couldn't stand the excitement.  If it's too intense, just fast-forward through it.!  

Following the parade, there were booths in the park, a car show and a BBQ cook-off.

John and I were too hungry to wait for BBQ, so we opted for burgers at the Horny Toad Bar and Grill.

Saturday, September 11, was a day filled with fun as well as painful memories.  Before the fun started, I was reliving that bright, clear morning twenty years ago when the unthinkable happened.  Four aircraft hijacked from our nation’s airports by Islamic extremists were used to murder thousands of innocent individuals.  The victims were of every race, creed and nationality, but they were murdered on American soil.  That day will, in my memory, eclipse the Day of Infamy for my parents’ generation, Pearl Harbor.  My thoughts are with all those with whom I shared that terrible day.  We are forever bound together by the experience,

Our small community of Cranfills Gap, Texas, marked the solemn occasion with a ceremony in Veterans’ Plaza alongside State Highway 22.  No, we will never forget.  And, God Bless the USA.

Running with the Cool Dogs

What a great weekend it was!  Cody and I were at the Bell County Expo arena in Belton for the Central Texas State Fair and Rodeo Sheep Dog Trial, sponsored by the Texas Sheepdog Association.  

The Expo Center is a great venue; it is air conditioned, so we stayed cool as we worked our sheep and watched our friends work their dogs.  Most stock dog trials are outdoor affairs, so the weather can be anything... blistering hot, gale-force winds, rain, snow and ice (sometimes all in the same weekend), so it was a real treat to be inside.  I have fond memories of this facility from my days doing agility trials with Nickie, our first border collie, before we began herding sheep.  

And speaking of border collies…I can’t say enough good things about Cody.  He has an incredible work ethic, and gives 100% any and every time I ask.  I couldn’t ask for a better partner.  Here are a few photos pulled from videos my friends took of our runs.  (Thanks so much, Lindsey Williams and Kathy Mazzola.  Having video to watch really helps to see what needs correcting.)

Cody and I often do open field trials, where it is important to finish in the allotted time, but more important to move the stock calmly and precisely though the course.  This one was what is called a time trial.   You get no points for style; the fastest time on a completed course is what counts.  It is good practice, though, because often the best time is for 

the most technically precise run. That is what we strive for...and a good pen, like this one! 

We had four trials this weekend.  Our first effort was dismal and Saturday morning’s run was a huge disappointment.  I was late with my commands except when I was giving Cody the wrong ones.  The sheep were cranky and Cody was in overdrive, which made stopping on command a challenge.  (Cody and I did have a frank discussion after the trial about the importance of lying down when told, and will be working on that this week!)  We did, however improve our times with each run, and finished fourth in our last trial.  Cody, of course, wasn’t keeping time or score; he was just having a grand time and I was so proud of him.  

Dogs and sheep weren’t the only livestock present, though.  There was other livestock in the adjacent buildings competing for ribbons and prizes.  While we were stretching our legs outside, we met these guys exercising their pigs in the cool grass.  

Our friendly companion both days in a stall just outside the arena was Oliver the seventeen-year-old Watusi steer.  His horns would be the envy of Bevo and all the "pasture art" longhorn steers we see along the road.  

Oliver isn’t just exceptional for the size of his horns, he is also a riding steer and quite the conversation piece as he strolls around the Fair.

It was a great weekend, and I’m so grateful to Lindsey and Toby Williams for hosting the trial, and to all the folks who helped out.  I also appreciate the generous support of my fellow dog handlers.  It’s a wonderful group of people; they love each other and their dogs and I’m so happy I get to hang out with them.