Dolly the mutant is a sweetheart, there she stands in the pasture placidly chewing her cud on her little 18" bow legs. Doe eyes plead for that extra carrot / apple/ peanut and when we gointo her pen, shes the first to amble over for a snuggle. It wasn't always like that and I anticipated a regression (big time !!) when we started the AI procedure. Dolly has been a pleasant surprise,....over the past few days we have been working to get her into the chute the first day Dolly didn't let us down !. We could have used the bull prod...but we don't like to work that way,...we don't hurt them....they hurt us. smile There I was, hauling on the leadrope, there was Greg holding on to her tail ( old wives tail...they can't kick if the tail is over the bovine butt.....maybe so,...but it doesn't stop them trying !!!) Dolly wasn't for moving. I was pulling, Greg was pushing...still she didn't move. Eighteen inch bow legs planted and it was" wont go, can't make me". Enter kind neighbour on a totaly unrelated matter who landed up holding said tail ( carefully avoiding back legs in case old wives tail was untrue !) Greg pushing..me pulling. Makes a pretty picture, doesn't it !! Dolly moved a little..then a little more..stretched out for an apple and we had her in the squeeze. Congratulations all round were a little premature. Kind neighbour left ( no doubt wondering how his day had taken such an unexpected turn !!) and we prepared for cute little Dolly in rodeo bull disguise to rocket out of the squeeze. Dolly didn't move, we pulled, we pushed, Dolly still didn't move a little bowed leg. Carrots apples and peanuts ignored Dolly settled in for the night, she had gone in...now get her out ! Eventually bored by our efforts Dolly the Mutant just hopped out ( she's a low rider and too short legged to step out !) and walked like a puppy dog on a rope back to her pen !! Stage two over we now look forward ( or not !!) to getting her in tonight for a hormone shot and remove the blue straw from bovine butt, trusting Macho hasn't succeeded in removing it overnight. One final thought before I go, Gregs Mom (almost 90 and what a ranch hand / ranch cook ) left yesterday to go home to Albuquerque, she was amazing and we will miss her..you Mom. take care. M
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