The RoundUp

Why is it Monday's are so physical tiring? It could be because our day of rest (Sunday) we all play so hard. This morning Lotus was teased and covered by Evan, then Isla, Giselle and Ivan were loaded into the 2 horse trailer and taken to Middle Grove. There is just so much grass there and that rain we had Saturday morning made a lot of mud here. It is much better for the yearlings to be with the herd on pasture. After a good roll Isla took off galloping around and having a ball, so excited to be back there. The other's just watched then dropped their heads to graze.

Diane told me Sunday about the big round up that happened at Middle Grove on Saturday. Mike and Diane discovered the herd was in the summer pasture and they needed to be moved. Dan, Abram and Levi had arrived so they were put to work helping using the jeep and 2 four wheelers. It took all 5 of them to get the job done. At one point the herd divided and half were heading the wrong way, Diane took off with her 4 wheeler yelling and was able to get them to join up and they all ended up back in the winter pasture. Dan sent the picture below after all was done:

 It seems that a few of the foals learned how to climb between the wires, the mares broke the chain on the gate to get to their foals. Mike had to work hard to get it electrified so it doesn't happen again. Mike about had a terrible accident, he was mowing the fence line, went to turn the tractor and was looking back when the loader hit a tree and knocked it right into him. He was hit on the back of the head and his back, shattering his ear guards and glasses. It pushed him hard down which caused an injury to his ribs. He was really sore on Sunday but grateful to be alive. Ranching is a dangerous job. As soon as I got home from Middle Grove I had to go to Diane's office to balance the Horsemeister check book. That was encouraging as I had forgotten to write down a pretty substantial deposit. This afternoon Joan and the kids came over and helped move all the wood that Karin, Mark and I split to the wood pile.