Last Saturday was the annual branding of new calves.
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| It was cloudy and cold! |
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| The cowboys/cowgirls in action. We have friends who come and do this because we are not as skilled! |
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| Instead we do the branding, vaccinations, ear clipping, and castrating {if necessary} |
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| Fudge watching the action from atop the corral fence. |
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| The smell is either good or bad depending on who you ask. |
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| Mr. Ferrero Rocher and Hershey making the same face. |
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| This cowgirl has one of the most angelic singing voices ever. |
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| The branding must not have been too exciting! |
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| Castrating a bull calf, always Mr. Ferrero Rocher’s job. He hates it! |
Branding can be dangerous especially when done this way. You never know how animals are going to react in certain situations. After the little kids and I left one of the cowboys {my SIL’s father, the man standing on the left in the photo above} roped a calf who started to go berserk. Somehow the rope got wrapped around the cowboy’s leg while the calf was running around and between the horse’s legs. This made the horse go crazy and start bucking. The cowboy tried to bail off the horse but because he was tied up in the rope he got pulled under the horse instead. The horse was trampling him. All the adults sprang into action, some going for the horse to calm him down, others cutting the rope which was still tied to the horn of the saddle, and still others helping to untangle the cowboy. He was bruised and battered and trying not to pass out. He has been very sore this week but we are so grateful his life was spared!
Scary! So glad everyone is alright.
Oh my goodness! Thank God he’s okay!
I didn’t know you were a ranching family! My parents have a branding each year as well. Cowboys come from all around to show off their roping skills. It’s so much fun, but you are right, anything can happen. I’m glad he is okay and recovering!
We, too are a ranching family, and this is all so close to home! Thank goodness for friends who so willingly give of their time/talents to come and help on these busy days! Great to hear that the accident was no worse than it was. LOVE the blog and all you do!
I loved seeing Maleia in your post. She is one heck of a cowgirl. Small world!!!
She just can’t seem to get away from Crooks can she? ☺