Quality time.

Handling his feet now should make hoof trimming easier later.

 

Grandkids meet the calf.

2/12 Four Species Went for a Walk Today (Feb. 12, 2010)

Scout, the bull calf, has a strong preference for walking on my left, his nose about even with my elbow. On halter I trained him to walk mostly on my right: he’s walking off halter now and choosing to walk on my left. I’m blind in my right eye — is it possible he has picked up on that and chooses to walk within my field of vision? He dislikes most when I walk behind him making him take the lead. I would attribute this to “cow herd” mentality: the lead cow. . . . well. . . .leads.

Peaches, the pony, usually isn’t allowed to go on our walks because she likes to run — flat out! Full gallop! I surmise that in a wild herd of horses, the slowest horse gets eaten. So I have to keep her on a rope lead. Starting out on our walk she makes circles around us, keeping me busy untangling rope, leads, feet, hooves, and paws. By the end of our six-mile walk, though, she’s lagging behind at the end of her rope, and I’m dragging her along at the end of my patience. She is a horse, of course! Horses are particularly good at flight. Being quick on the trigger is good for horse survival, and makes horses well suited for the races and wars men seem so intent on. But, for a leisurely walk, not so good. Scout maintained consistent speed throughout whereas Peaches was quickly bored with our plodding.

Harry, the puppy, was in scavenger mode most of the time. He worked both sides of the gravel road, up ahead of the pack covereing many more miles than the rest of us. I suppose the wolf who finds road-kill first, and gulps it down quickest, is the fattest dog in the pack. (No, I didn’t say fastest.) As Harry matures, I expect to see his scavenging behaviors gradually begin to include hunting behaviors. When we walked by farm places with barking dogs, he showed signs of unease with sharing territory. Dogs being territorial are quick to defend their space. (The less space they have the quicker and more vehemently they will defend it.)

And that brings us to me, our representative of the human race. It was pitch dark before we got half way through our walk. One vehicle passed us during that time. As soon as I spotted the headlights I got Scout and Harry on leads, along with the Peaches, and dragged us all in a tangle into the ditch, belly deep in the snow. As the driver passed, did he wonder what a dog, a horse, a bull calf and a man were doing tangled together, in a huddle, along a lonely road, in the ditch, in the snow, in the cold, and in the dark?

Only an animal with an oversized brain could have gotten us there.

A horse, of course!

 
We go look at a litter of puppies. We like this one best. He is not old enough to bring home yet.

Halter Training Scout the Ox

Scout in his pen.

Being led by the pony trains Scout the Ox to lead on a halter.

Scout the Ox is following along calmly as the pony grazes. (He's chewing his cud in this picture.)

If you try this method of halter training, close supervision is important. It would be counterproductive if the training turned into a bad experience.

These two dogs, Pert and Brooke, turned up missing during deer hunting season.

Peaches is a bit jealous of the new calf in the next pen.

She's a Labradoodle.

Brooke was my shadow --- a very pleasant dog. Have you seen her?

Brooke "helps" feed the calf.

Brooke and Scout get aquainted.

Peaches the pony joined in on the fun.

The precious moments of discovery; Scout learns he can run.

Scout with his feet back on terra firma.

We brought Scout home  on November 5th, 2009 (he didn't have a name then). He was 13 days old. My younger daughter Amy was home visiting that week so it was an especially memorable day.

Scout came from a dairy that was my favorite from my cattle hoof trimming days. He is of the Ayrshire breed and also has some Swedish Ayrshire in him. He was living within the dome of a round fiberglass calf hutch so he hadn't experienced much of the wonderful world around him yet. He'd had his three days of colostrum (first milk) and was in good health.

Scout got milk replacer twice a day.

"Are you serious!"

New neighbors.

The calf in his new home.

Scout the Ox Rides Home in Amy's Lap

"Are we there yet?"

"Are you a safe driver?"

Does the calf wonder if he'll ever see Mom again?