Today was a "typical" day on the ranch, where we just went with the flow as usual.
Melissa and I decided to set our alarms this morning for eight instead of seven like usual. It was nice to get a little bit of extra sleep. We did our normal chores and then headed down to the barn where Jenn made us omelettes. Calico and Melissa watered down the arena and then we all worked on our roping. I almost got the heel shot every time. For those who don't know, a heel shot is where you are in back of the cow (or dummy in this case) at 90 degrees and swing it to the right side so you can get the back two legs caught (as shown in the picture). Jenn then showed us a trap shot, which is the same as the heel shot, but you are standing directly behind the cow or dummy and then catch the two back legs. The angle of your swing is completely different though. I started to get it and ended with the best one of the day. We spent nearly three hours roping.
After that we headed to Granny's for lunch where we had hot dogs and french fries. We went and checked on Tony and then hooked up a hose to the water bucket since the pump stopped working. After that we loaded up some of the cows and calves and took them back to the pasture.
When we got back to the barn, we hooked up two electrical fences to make two new pastures for horses and moved George's pen to the other side of the barn since Chachi will be living with two mares for a while. Therefore, all the other studs need to be away from them.
Calico and I then worked with her two colts, Cash and Leonard. I worked on freeing up Cash's hips and getting him to lead around me better. I also worked on backing him up using feel and rubbing all over him to get him even more used to it. Jenn and Melissa worked with Winston after that. He has definitely improved so much in just three days of handling him. Jenn was able to halter him outside the round pen but had a little trouble getting him away from the other colts and the hay. Zach came in a showed her a trick, release every time he moves his hind feet, and then he will follow pretty well. The way he could get Winston to mvoe with such a simple gesture really blew my mind. He was also doing great when Melissa could get him to back up by just gently squeezing the bottom of the halter where the lead rope attaches. Jenn then got Buster into the round pen and he let her walk right up to him, rub him, and put a halter on him. That was a big improvement from yesterday when he was just starting to get used to us rubbing on him. After that, I was able to work with him. I worked on getting him to move forward by releasing when his hind feet moved. Zach explained that this was best since the horse's movement starts from the hind and as a safety for when they get into a bind. By moving the hind, they can be brought back to focus on you and keep you from getting hurt as well. I also worked on helping him bend a little bit more by releasing whenever he tried. That's the thing with colts, you have to release for every try they give.
Afterwards we fed Nora and our calves and made some dinner. Now it's almost time for bed as the clouds roll in and the sun sets on the South Dakota prairie.
Melissa and I decided to set our alarms this morning for eight instead of seven like usual. It was nice to get a little bit of extra sleep. We did our normal chores and then headed down to the barn where Jenn made us omelettes. Calico and Melissa watered down the arena and then we all worked on our roping. I almost got the heel shot every time. For those who don't know, a heel shot is where you are in back of the cow (or dummy in this case) at 90 degrees and swing it to the right side so you can get the back two legs caught (as shown in the picture). Jenn then showed us a trap shot, which is the same as the heel shot, but you are standing directly behind the cow or dummy and then catch the two back legs. The angle of your swing is completely different though. I started to get it and ended with the best one of the day. We spent nearly three hours roping.
After that we headed to Granny's for lunch where we had hot dogs and french fries. We went and checked on Tony and then hooked up a hose to the water bucket since the pump stopped working. After that we loaded up some of the cows and calves and took them back to the pasture.
When we got back to the barn, we hooked up two electrical fences to make two new pastures for horses and moved George's pen to the other side of the barn since Chachi will be living with two mares for a while. Therefore, all the other studs need to be away from them.
Calico and I then worked with her two colts, Cash and Leonard. I worked on freeing up Cash's hips and getting him to lead around me better. I also worked on backing him up using feel and rubbing all over him to get him even more used to it. Jenn and Melissa worked with Winston after that. He has definitely improved so much in just three days of handling him. Jenn was able to halter him outside the round pen but had a little trouble getting him away from the other colts and the hay. Zach came in a showed her a trick, release every time he moves his hind feet, and then he will follow pretty well. The way he could get Winston to mvoe with such a simple gesture really blew my mind. He was also doing great when Melissa could get him to back up by just gently squeezing the bottom of the halter where the lead rope attaches. Jenn then got Buster into the round pen and he let her walk right up to him, rub him, and put a halter on him. That was a big improvement from yesterday when he was just starting to get used to us rubbing on him. After that, I was able to work with him. I worked on getting him to move forward by releasing when his hind feet moved. Zach explained that this was best since the horse's movement starts from the hind and as a safety for when they get into a bind. By moving the hind, they can be brought back to focus on you and keep you from getting hurt as well. I also worked on helping him bend a little bit more by releasing whenever he tried. That's the thing with colts, you have to release for every try they give.
Afterwards we fed Nora and our calves and made some dinner. Now it's almost time for bed as the clouds roll in and the sun sets on the South Dakota prairie.