Branding

Today we went to our second branding this year.  Having gone to one yesterday, we are now very tired, worn out, and sore.

We got up around 6:15 yesterday morning and headed out after saddling the horses and getting ourselves ready.  The first bunch we branded went by really fast and we were off to gather two more bunches.  Once the pairs were gathered and sorted, we began to brand them.  Flankers held down the calves the ropers drug to them, the shots were given, the steers cut and implanted, ear tags were stuck in their ears, next came the brand, and then it was back to the group of calves in the corner.

We went on like that until dinner and after; moving to a different place once.  All the cowboys and cowgirls took a break and had a wonderful dinner provided by the couple in charge of the whole branding.  Afterwards, Dad, Big J., and I (along with others) were instructed to move a few herds of cattle to their pastures, thus, we didn't help with the real branding as much when dinner was finished.  But that was fine.  Our horses got a nice, almost 10 miles, walk pushing the pairs practically all over the county.  Okay, not quite...

There once was a possible problem, but because of intelligent cowboys and older horses, we were able to return one run away heifer back to her pasture.

We got home fairly late because after we finished branding, we had to check my goats.  Sadly, the goat which had only one kid lost it.  Now she needs nursed out by one of the other goat's kids, which we have to help with.  But, if any of you were wondering, Arendelle, the little baby we brought home to feed, is doing fine and is the kid that nurses the one who lost the baby.  My other nanny goat only had one a couple of days after the first ones.  Her bag (utter) is too large for her one baby to keep nursed out so we have to fight her to milk her out. 

But when we finished messing with the goats, we came home, ate supper around eight o'clock, and went to bed for yet another early morning.

Today, we got to sleep in! till 6:30 anyway.  We left the house at 7ish and headed out to the second branding.  Today we only had to work two bunches of calves, all of which were at the same set of pens.  The first bunch was gathered, so we started up right away.  This time Big J. and I flanked as a team for a while.  I gladly did that job.  I don't know how many we flanked but it was a bunch!  We traded partners every so often, not really on purpose but it worked out.  I flanked the most with my dad. 

One of the funny things of the day was when a young man tried (a couple of times) to flank an un-roped calf all by himself.  It was comical, but it only got better.  Dad and I decided we should try our hand at flanking an un-roped calf.  After a little tugging and pulling, the calf plopped down on to the sandy ground.  Everyone who saw it laughed and cheered us on.  But I personally think the best part was the young man's facial expression when he heard what happened and saw us sitting on the calf. 
He did try one last time on the last calf and succeeded, though now every one kidded that he should have asked for our help.

We headed in for dinner and what a great meal that was!  We talked a few moments afterwards, but folks filed out pretty quick to get back to their own work or house. 

On our way home, we again checked the goats, this time finding my one last nanny with her babies.  Triplet black and white ones!  So cute!  Sorry, no pictures yet.  But there is a pure black one while the others are black and white.  We are done kidding now for this year.

I hope you enjoyed this post.  : )

Sunrise taken 3-11-14.