Today Drover and I left out at 6:00AM to deliver a pony in Liberty and a horse in Reidsville. Then our plan was to go on to Burlington to pick up sheep for next weekend…
We started at 6:00AM and the black horse loaded fine..except when I went to tie him in the horse trailer (it is still real dark at that time of morning) and my trailer is black inside the horse was black and I dropped the lead line next thing I knew the horse was loose and flying down my driveway! Well best I could tell! It was dark!!!!!! I went to get the Gator and put Drover in the truck (my dogs do not work horses because I ride horses) I followed and moved the “now loose and I know YOU can’t catch me horse” back to the barn after 45 minutes of not being so very happy! I caught the rascal and went to load him again and he said “oh NO!” now horses are wonderful smart animals. this particular horse is too smart. He knew he got away from me and thought he had me! He could do as he pleased (run free!) now I don’t blame him for that but NOT AT MY HOUSE!!!
What I did was put him in the stall. Then I backed the trailer up to the barn door and opened the stall door and walked him up to the trailer . He refused ! (guess I should mention by now I was kinda mad) He had no where to go but back in the barn.(no more Gator Chasing!) so I tied him to the trailer with a long rope and walked behind him expecting trouble! Thank the Lord ! He stepped up on the trailer and stood there like “what is your problem?” None now ! I shut the gate and down the road we went!
I got the pony delivered and the black horse without incident. I headed on over to Finley Vue Farm and picked up herding sheep. Arriving back home at 1:00 PM. Kelly said I needed to doctor his sheep’s feet so they would not be sore. I left them in the stock trailer for a while until I had help for that job!
Good friends are hard to find! And I know I am truly BLESSED! Vickey my horse riding friend and Reba and Richard with a truck load of hickory wood (for barbcueing) from Marshville came up about the same time! Perfect! Reba and Richard know goats and how to doctor feet! Vickey likes to farm and is a strong lady! Sheep are no match for this combo of brains, talent, and strength….Well…Maybe one or two sheep were up to a good try! This is how it went..
I would go into the trailer with a looped rope and catch a sheep. Richard would come in and lead the sheep out. (that is what I am calling it) it was more a pull push operation!
Richard would tie the sheep to the side of the trailer. Vickey would hold the sheep against the trailer. I would pick up a foot wash it and if it needed triming Richard did that . Then I would dip the foot in a special solution and spray it with medication. Reba offered help and comments and kept us on the right foot ! As well as open the gate to the sheep pen when we were finished.
Lets see 9 sheep times 4 feet equals 36 feet doctored correctly! Yeah, a really big job! It took us about three hours I guess. Boy, were we all tired afterwards!
All during our sheep doctoring Drover was there to watch and help if needed. But only if called upon. One of the last few sheep really threw a fit. It jumped and leaped and at some point sweet Drover was standing there 3 feet from the action and all of a sudden that sheep and her feet came flying in the air towards him and she kicked him up side his head! He was like what in the world ? He was stunned, and I know it had to hurt!
Then I got the horse trailer stuck in the field. To much wet grass!
So we went to the house and unloaded that load of fire wood!
When we finished we all went to Skippers and ate seafood!!
We had the best time! We laughed so much! Vickey called each sheep a GOAT! She said they looked like goats!
Richard and Reba are designing a sheep holding thing. So next time we can just lock them in place. They really need to work out a system for “leading” the sheep too!!!
My what a good time we had! I am so Blessed!
