Yesterday, I headed out to start gathering bulls. My plan was to start with the smallest group where there are only two bulls. When I left it was foggy and drizzling.
As I headed out I found the first bull. He was laying down, kicking it by the water tank. I figured I’d leave him since he was pretty close to where I needed him to go.
I rode out north and kept going, and going and going. No bull. East to the dam, no bull. And then I saw a group, hiding in the tall grass, in the northwest corner.
Success. There you are! By now it was starting to sprinkle and had rained on and off already. Poor Dino kept trying to travel with his hips to the rain, which was pelting us from a northeasterly direction.
The bull was quite cooperative and went where I asked, though he did poke along. I figured I would trail him back to the tank and pick up my handsome Brangus bull when I got back. But wouldn’t you know I couldn’t find that sucker?!
Gathering bulls, for me anyway, is probably my favorite job on the ranch. It’s amazing work for your horse; they learn to rate, and when the animal won’t line out there’s lots of lateral work to do, as a cow isn’t much different than a horse when it comes to changing eyes.
I decided just to take #191 home and look for the other later. The closer we got to home, the harder the rain came down. At least we were riding into it now and Dino, while still not thrilled with this setup traipsed along for me like the champ he is.
We got the bull corralled and for a moment I considered putting Dino in the calving barn and going in for lunch but I figured I’d still have to get him back to the barn and out to his pasture. So we trotted back.
I know he looks less than thrilled in these photos but he sure did good yesterday! It took me a while to get dried out and warm again!
When I headed out to shut the gates (via ATV), wouldn’t you know I saw that Brangus bull? I locked him in the south half of that pasture and while I have intentions of getting him today I may wait until Friday when the weather is supposed to straighten up. It’s cloudy, windy, and yucky today and tomorrow it’s supposed to rain again.
How’d you spend your Tuesday?
Happy Trails!
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