Tuesday, March 2, 2010

1st calf of the seasson

It has started.....


Monday (March 1st) night (well, technically Monday afternoon) while I was waiting for the blacksmith to come trim the horses hooves I was riding. I know, shocker....



And yes, I was messing around trying to
take a picture with my cell phone.
And keep my balance at the same time and not fall off.


But I climed up on Shamy (and this was not the brightest move I have ever done but there are some horses that you can do this with and some you can't..) bareback, with just a halter and 1 leadrope. No saddle, no bridle, heck, not even 2 lead ropes to control her. She probably has not been really ridden since sometime in 2008. And did I mention it's been almost 2 years since I've been on a horse? Probably 2 years this coming August.


It was fun - trotting and cantering around the field through the snow. She still remembers how to be a western pleasure show horse. Sit back, hit the cruise control button and go.


But anyhow....I was looking at the cows and thought Mittens looked a little uncomfortable. The blacksmith arrives, I end my ride, hold both horses while I catch up with him (when I showed horses I almost always showed against either him or one of his brothers and sisters), and as we are looking at the cows he even makes the comment that Mittens looked uncomfortable.

I go in the house at 5:45, Todd gets home at 6:20 and guess what? There is a baby calf on the ground in the back of the lot. She had it all on her own, no involvement or help from us:) I love this heifer.




We give them some time and then in the dark go out and bring them in. It's a tiny little thing, only about 60 lbs. And it's a heifer. Which was vastly disappointing to Tyler, who wanted a bull calf. But he has since decided that this is my heifer and we AREN'T selling her and sissy is NOT showing her - NO WAY NO HOW. hmmmm...... opinionated little thing, isn't he?


But she's healthy, mom survived and has figured out the whole routine, as we sit back (not really) and wait for the rest of the herd to start popping out babies. All the while we are praying really, really hard that everyone takes a mini break while we are in Minnesota here in a few weeks....






Let the fun begin......
Kris

12 comments:

Michelle said...

How neat! I'd love to own some cattle one day, though I know that they are a TON of work. But for now - strictly chickens. ;)

sugarcreekfarm said...

Beautiful! So glad things went so well for you!! Hopefully we won't start for at least a month!

Cheryl said...

Oh, she's beautiful! And so it begins.

Michaela said...

Oh, I am happy to see that. Does it mean spring is almost here?

Nancy M. said...

Oh, she's so cute! Glad her mom had an easy delivery!

marit said...

What a cute calf! It's great when the mothers deliver without any helping hands at all! Hope the rest goes just as easy!

Susan said...

It sounds so easy and fun when you write about it. But then I remember all the COLD days you are feeding and caring for these wonderful four legged friends and decide to enjoy reading about if from you.

em's scrapbag said...

Sweet little thing.

country mouse said...

Well, I'm sorry for Tyler's sake that it's not the bull he wanted, but am glad to hear that your new addition is healthy, and everything went well. She's adoreable.

Gina said...

She's gorgeous

Love and hugs Gina xxx

audreypawdrey said...

Congratulations on the new little one and I am glad she was able to do it on her own! Sounds like you had a fun ride, too. :)

Gill - That British Woman said...

oh that is so neat. How many more cows will be having calves?

Gill in Canada