On the Move

Paradise's ears and Dad riding ahead.

This week's post is about moving our new heifers.

 

Recently we bought 40 new heifer calves.  On the 16th, we branded the girls by running them through the chute instead of using horses and ropes.  Then on the 19th, we moved them on horseback.

 

The heifers

 

The day was perfect with temps. in the 60's and 70's and no wind.  The two and some mile ride was great for cattle, horses, and people alike.  The heifers moved themselves and we only had to direct them, making the move easy.

 

(L to R) Little J. on Tres, Mom on Lucky, and Big J. on Bullseye.  

See--in the picture below--how the heifers are in a line?  Cattle follow trails called "cattle trails", but in this instance, these are pickup tracks that they're following. 

 

 

When we reached the destination pasture, the heifers were introduced to our other cattle.  Then came the time for the newbies to learn what a hot wire fence is.  One by one they'd begin sniffing or studying the thin wire.  All at once they'd jump back, and/or bellow, letting us know they'd been shocked.  We watched them for the longest time because it was funny.  Some did learn that the hot fence would shock them if they touched it, and still others didn't, which means we'll be riding again sometime soon.  : )