Rampage Through the Countryside

I managed to catch another headcold late last week. I was just getting over the last cold and WHAM along comes another one. I spent most of Saturday sleeping while Mike, Mom, Dad, and Grandma put up fence so that I could move Rabbit, Queen, and Mayhem into the pasture. It's a good thing because all hell broke loose this morning.

I was sound asleep when our little min pin sounded the alarm that someone was in our driveway this morning. The neighbors were headed into town and were almost run over by our herd of eight running down the road. It was about 8-8:30am at the time. Thank goodness for neighbor's stopping in to tell us what was going on. I was in such a fog but woke in a hurry. Mike and I grabbed a couple lead ropes and a bucket of grain and jumped in the truck to track them down.

I didn't figure they would be too hard to catch. Was I wrong!

I have yet to figure out what spooked them but they took the majority of the one strand of electric fence down. We followed their tracks for about three miles before we spotted them in an alfalfa field. Luckily they were at a dead end so I thought it would be fairly easy to catch them.

Again, was I wrong!

Thanks to Bo, Jim, and Zeke the herd took off across the alfalfa field. I couldn't chase after them so Mike went after them with the grain bucket. I had high hopes that I could call them in with just grain. Stupid me for thinking such a thing.

After a bit of coaxing, Mike was able to catch Bo. Of course, he went with just a grain bucket and no lead rope. Bo did a number on Mike and really tossed him around but we were able to get a lead rope on Bo. Mike went to go get the truck and trailer and I thought I could coax the boys home down the road at a nice steady walk.

Again, was I wrong!

I had a firm grip on Bo but Jim decided to take the herd into the bean field at a nice even trot. Of course Bo decided to totally flip out. Bo freaked out and tossed me around but I wasn't going to have any of that nonsense. While Mike went to get the trailer, Bo and I had a discussion about manners. Unfortunately, his ground manners leave much to be desired when the herd is around, add to that a fast disappearing herd and Bo went (excuse my language) ape shit. In the end, Bo was on one side of the fence while I stood on the other to ensure that I wouldn't be completely trampled. Unfortunately all fencing around these parts consists of barbed wire. As Mike was pulling in with the truck and trailer, Bo lunged at the fence and cut his chest. Luckily it wasn't deep but it was yet another wound to treat.

We loaded Bo and went looking for the rest of the herd. They were just over the top of the hill and were all up by the truck and trailer. I was able to get my hands on Zeke and was trying for Jim but Jim decided to be the jerk that he is and took off, with the rest of the herd in hot pursuit. I was able to get Zeke loaded and Mike went after them, with little success.

I took Zeke and Bo home and came back with more lead ropes but after more than an hour of chasing, Mike and I knew it was time to call in reinforcements.

Let me say, we have such wonderful guardian angels. I made a few phone calls and my angels were on their way! I will forever be in their debt! When my angles arrived (with a saddled horse in tow), we headed back down to where we'd last seen the herd. Luckily they were there. I think everyone but Jim wanted to be done and back home.

My guardian angel mounted up and went for a short ride to bring everyone in. When she brought the herd in, we caught everyone (except Jim) right away. It took another five minutes or so just to catch that mean ol' Jim but we did. I will be honest and say that there were a number of curse words thrown out at Jim. I'm sure everyone else was thinking what I was saying.

We loaded everyone up into the two trailers and headed home.

Jim is now in the Timeout Pen until further notice. I will NOT tolerate that type of behavior. The rest of the herd is standing in the drylot waiting for me to make a decision on what to do with them. I would much rather not throw hay as I can't lift anything due to my health. But it'll take a good four hours to move the temporary fencing and at this point, we will NOT be putting everyone back over there. Jim will stay here and I think Bo and Zeke will be stuck here as well. I repeat, I will not tolerate bad behavior.

By the time we had all the horses back home and everyone on their way, it was after noon. By that time, both Mike and I were starting to get sick because of the heat. We've been hiding inside ever since trying to ward off getting sick again. As I type this, Mike is asleep on the floor with the little min pin alarm clock curled up next to him (even though it's hot in the house).

I have a few ideas of what we'll do to resolve the issue but I'm not sure they are going to work. I have a feeling something spooked the horses. Three fourths of the fence was taken down so something had to have spooked them to do that much damage. But for now, the temps are going to be too high to do anything for the next few days. If/when I do put the horses back over at the neighbor's, there will be three less horses (Bo, Jim, and Zeke) and there will be a lot more powerful electric charger on the fence. I want those horses scared of the fence next time they go over.

My anger at Jim is beyond words. Had he been a good boy, we wouldn't have had to spend four hours in the heat trying to catch everyone. I may very well haul him to Madison and bring King home. At least then, I could leave Zeke and Bo here and then put the rest of the herd at the neighbor's. We'll see. It all depends on how long my irritation level stays sky high.

These are the days I wonder why I do what we do.