October 7, 2006

aisy is an awesome cow. As she was munching on grain, I rubbed her body with the rope halter and then slipped it on over her ears and horns. After a couple minor adjustments and running my hand under her slobbery nose with the chin 'strap', I got the halter on her. She walked a few steps and came to an abrupt halt with one of her feet standing on the end of the lead rope. After giving her more grain and her ending up next to a thick willow tree, I grabbed the end of the lead rope and I tied her up to the tree. The tree had enough give to it, without letting her get away.

There was not as much of a rodeo as we were all anticipating. She tested the tree for awhile, and learned when she did not pull back and the nosepiece was looser, she would get some grain and no tightness on her nose.  I desensitized her by rubbing my hands all over her and massaging her neck. Then I went to rubbing her belly and felt HUGE milk veins. I got to touch her udder without her kicking the beejeebies out of me. I did have one slight injury. Freak accident. About 5 minutes after "Daisy" was tied up, the rope caught me under my upper lip and I have slight laceration there. I will live..    I worked with "Daisy" for about 20-30 minutes while tied to the tree

Then I decided to push my luck..

I untied the cow from the willow tree and tempted Fate. But I kept her neck turned so she was off balance and had to turn with me. My boyfriend who was the one anticipating the rodeo when he saw me taking the halter down to the cow pasture, was impressed. He did not think I would get this far with her so soon and ahead of schedual.  I actually got to lead her around for about 10 minutes with only one discussion and then she stood quietly, so I just dropped the lead rope and walked away with her so she could eat. There is very slim chance of her getting hurt in that halter, so she will live with it for a few days until I can get her pretty blue permanent one on her.

In other news, I went to a livestock auction today. I just went to see what was going through the ring, check out prices, keep my 'eye' for judging large livestock and maybe buy a couple meat lambs for a couple friends. No sheep, some ugly rabbits other than a few Black Tans, a handful of poultry and a lone Highlander steer.